Kaduna-Bound Train Derails at Asham Along Abuja–Kaduna Corridor

Punch News later corroborated the report by releasing a video clip from the scene. The footage showed several train coaches off the track, some leaning dangerously while others were lying on their sides. Passengers, including women, children, and men, were seen crawling out of the derailed coaches and gathering by the tracks in visible distress.

In the video, a female passenger who recorded the event explained that she had been seated in the last coach. After the train came to a halt, she stepped out to find that several coaches had overturned. The clip showed confused and frightened passengers struggling to recover their belongings while others assisted those who sustained minor injuries.

At the time of filing this report, the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) had yet to release an official statement regarding the derailment. Neither NTA nor Punch News confirmed the number of injured passengers, and there was no official indication of fatalities. Emergency response teams were, however, reported to be on their way to the site to provide rescue and medical assistance.

This latest derailment adds to a string of safety challenges facing Nigeria’s railway sector. Over the past few years, derailments have emerged as the most common form of railway accident in the country, raising questions about the effectiveness of safety measures and maintenance practices.

The Abuja–Kaduna line, one of Nigeria’s busiest railway corridors, has particularly experienced repeated incidents. Just days earlier, the NRC confirmed that a Kaduna-bound train suffered a “hot axle” fault near Rigasa Station in Kaduna, which disrupted travel for business class passengers. Similarly, in May 2024, another derailment was recorded at Jeremy Station along the same corridor, though thankfully without loss of life.

The Warri–Itakpe line, another major corridor, has not been spared. In August 2025, the NRC announced that urgent repairs were ongoing after critical faults were discovered. The line had to be temporarily shut down for safety reasons, and while the corporation assured the public that work had reached an advanced stage, the disruption underscored the broader challenges confronting Nigeria’s railway system.

According to the 2023 Social Statistics Report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), derailments remain the single most common form of train accident in Nigeria between 2020 and 2022. The report documented:

• 183 derailment incidents
• 155 cases of loss of control and locomotive failure
• 51 cases of train detachment
• 28 recorded collisions
• 9 washouts caused by flooding
• 41 miscellaneous accidents

These statistics highlight that derailments are not isolated events but part of a broader trend that has continued into 2024 and 2025, raising urgent questions about systemic weaknesses in the sector.

Beyond technical failures and poor maintenance, vandalism has also emerged as a major challenge threatening Nigeria’s railway system. Reports of stolen tracks, the removal of signaling equipment, and deliberate sabotage of critical railway infrastructure have become increasingly frequent. These acts of vandalism not only disrupt smooth operations but also significantly endanger passenger safety.

Railway workers and security experts have repeatedly called for greater investment in surveillance and protection measures. The Abuja–Kaduna line in particular has suffered from banditry, theft, and sabotage, complicating efforts to maintain reliable services

The derailment at Asham is expected to have ripple effects on both the economy and public confidence. The Abuja–Kaduna corridor is heavily relied upon by thousands of passengers daily, including businesspeople, government officials, and regular commuters seeking a safer alternative to the Kaduna Abuja highway, which has been plagued by insecurity and kidnappings in recent years.

Each disruption to train services forces passengers to resort to the highway, increasing road traffic and exposing travelers to heightened security risks. Moreover, frequent accidents undermine Nigeria’s broader efforts to revive rail transport as a viable alternative to road travel for both passengers and freight.

News of the derailment quickly spread across social media platforms, drawing a wave of reactions from Nigerians. Many expressed relief that there had been no confirmed fatalities while also criticizing the government and NRC for failing to ensure passenger safety. Others called for urgent investigations and accountability to determine whether the incident was caused by technical faults, poor track maintenance, or negligence.

Several advocacy groups also used the opportunity to demand stronger investments in rail infrastructure, stressing that the sector could not be allowed to fail given the country’s pressing transportation needs.

Experts say that for Nigeria’s railway system to become safe, sustainable, and reliable, a comprehensive strategy must be adopted. This includes regular track inspections, the modernization of rolling stock, improved staff training, and better coordination between the NRC, security agencies, and local communities.

Additionally, the federal government is urged to strengthen policies on infrastructure maintenance, prioritize funding for safety equipment, and deploy advanced technology for monitoring and early detection of faults. Addressing vandalism and sabotage would also require increased community engagement, stronger legal penalties, and the deployment of surveillance drones and patrol teams.

The derailment of the Kaduna-bound train at Asham once again exposes the fragility of Nigeria’s rail infrastructure. While passengers were fortunate to escape with their lives, the incident highlights urgent gaps in safety standards, maintenance, and security. With derailments and faults becoming recurring events, the need for immediate reforms and investments in the railway sector cannot be overstated. Unless decisive measures are taken, Nigeria risks undermining its ambitious efforts to build a reliable modern railway system for its citizens.