The Federal Government and relevant government agencies have been told to increase funding of the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) in a bid to enhance safety in intermodal transportation.
The Director-General, NSIB, Capt. Alex Badeh Jr., appealed yesterday, during a virtual and physical update on the August 26, 2025, train derailment at Asham Train Station on the Abuja–Kaduna rail line.
Badeh, while fielding questions from journalists at the event, said that it was critical for the NSIB to be adequately funded to carry out its functions properly and prevent loss of lives.
The NSIB’s Establishment Act 2022 empowers the bureau to investigate all modes of transportation – rail, road, maritime and aviation serious incidents and accidents.
The bureau is also expected to issue safety recommendations to prevent the recurrence of similar incidents or accidents.Badeh explained that the NSIB received some funding from the government, but insisted that it was inadequate to carry out its duties efficiently as spelt out in its establishment Act and train its investigators.
He said: “Some funds are made available, but they are never enough. As an agency, we should be adequately funded by the government.
“We must train our investigators in all modes of transportation. As we expand our rail lines, we should also expand the funding of a bureau, which will prevent unnecessary loss of lives and equipment.”
On the rail accident, Badeh expressed that the train consisted of eight passenger coaches with one locomotive at the front and one at the rear.
According to him, the train departed Idu Station, Abuja, at 09:45 hours and stopped at Kubwa Station at 10:04 hours before continuing its journey. However, he regretted that shortly after passing a track changing point (switch/turnout) at Asham Station, five coaches (SC00 6T, SC00 8T, SC0010T, E00 2S, and EB00 2S) derailed.
He stated that the forward locomotive (CDD5C2 2701) and two coaches (SC002T, SC004T) overturned, while the rear locomotive (CDD5C1 W0004) and the last coach (SE00 2S) remained on the rail track.
NSIB’s investigation indicated that there were 583 persons on board, including crew, while an eyewitness reported that approximately 50passengers “may have been injured” with many of the injured passengers taken away by their families.
He added, “Official records confirmed 12 persons sustained minor to moderate injuries. No fatalities recorded. The injured received first aid treatment and were transported to medical facilities for further examination.
“The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) emergency team, supported by station military personnel and other security agencies, secured the site. The derailment resulted in significant damage to the track, sleepers, and switching mechanism. Services on the Abuja–Kaduna–Abuja corridor were temporarily suspended to allow for recovery and repairs.”
The DG emphasised that a preliminary report to unravel the remote and immediate causes of the accident would be made public within 30 days, starting from the day of occurrence.
He pointed out further that the NSIB had appointed an Investigator-in-Charge (IIC) based on qualifications to organise, conduct and control the train investigation.
The IIC, he said, had full access and control over the accident site, evidence and relevant records, including the protection and custody of rolling stock, locomotives, contents, and other evidence to prevent disturbance or tampering.
He explained that recorded data from the train, including vigilance control systems, speedometers, on-board Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras, and over-speed trip mechanisms, would be preserved and analysed by its investigators.
Badeh, however, refused to speculate on the cause of the derailment, saying that as an investigator, it was wrong to pre-empt the outcome of an accident when the investigation was still ongoing.
But he assured that the outcome of the preliminary investigation would be made in accordance with the Act.
