Minister of Transportation, Saidu Ahmed Alkali, and the Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Mr Kayode Opeifa, have ruled out sabotage in last week’s Abuja-Kaduna train derailment, assuring Nigerians of the safety of rail services in the country.

The duo has also apologised to the Nigerian media over the untidy melee involving NRC officials and newsmen, which resulted in a hot altercation at the scene of the incident.

Data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) show that Nigeria has recorded 188 train derailments between 2020 and 2025.

Between 2020 and 2022 alone, 183 derailments occurred — 57 in 2020, 61 in 2021, and 65 in 2022 — making derailment the most common railway accident in recent years.

Poor maintenance, vandalism, weak security controls, and ageing infrastructure have been identified as major causes.

However, addressing State House correspondents in Abuja at the weekend, Alkali dismissed speculations of sabotage in the latest incident.

“We have fixed the ‘point machine’ from here up to Kaduna, and since then, there has been no issue of derailment.

For this incident, investigations are ongoing, and we don’t want to preempt the committee until it submits its report,” the Minister said.

A point machine, also called a switch motor, remotely operates railway turnouts by moving the blades that guide trains from one track to another and locking them securely in place. Modern systems are equipped with sensors that confirm blade positions to ensure safe operations.

The Minister acknowledged that vandalism of railway assets remains a challenge despite several arrests and prosecutions.

On clearance efforts, Alkali disclosed that four of the ten capsized coaches during the Abuja-Kaduna incident last week had been removed with the aid of specialised rail cranes.

He said the government was working with the Office of the National Security Adviser on a comprehensive protection plan, just as he hinted that procurement processes were underway to link Warri-Ajaokuta-Abuja by rail.

The Minister used the occasion to clarify reports that N30 billion was allocated for rail security in the 2023 budget.

He explained that while such a proposal was raised, it was not captured in the final Appropriation Act.

Specifically, the Federal Government had originally proposed N30.79 billion for an acoustic sensing security system on the Abuja (IDU)-Kaduna rail line, alongside allocations for completion of the Abuja-Kaduna and Lagos-Ibadan rail projects, rehabilitation of the Itakpe-Ajaokuta line, and other works.

Meanwhile, NRC boss, Opeifa, tendered an unreserved apology to journalists, particularly to the NTA reporter who was denied access at the accident scene.

His apology followed a protest letter from the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), which condemned the harassment of its immediate past national chairperson, Comrade Ladi Bala.

“If any journalist or medium felt excluded or not well treated at the accident scene, I take full responsibility and I sincerely apologise. We are committed to transparency and will continue to provide the press with access and information as events unfold,” Opeifa said.

On the cause of the derailment, he also ruled out sabotage.

“Nationwide, rail tracks are constantly targeted by vandals and scrap syndicates. But with specific reference to this incident, the track showed no signs of sabotage or structural failure. Our initial findings indicate it was an operational accident at a junction point,” he explained.

Opeifa confirmed that all 618 passengers were safely evacuated. Twenty sustained minor injuries, while seven were hospitalised and have since been discharged, with the NRC footing all medical bills.

He commended first responders, security agencies, and community members for their swift action, stressing that remedial work on the damaged track was ongoing and that train services would resume shortly.