By Our Reporter
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has attributed the Abuja–Kaduna train derailment of August 26 at Asham Station to a malfunctioning switch mechanism.
In its preliminary report released on Wednesday, the NSIB said train AK1, operated by the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), derailed shortly after passing a faulty track switch point. The locomotive and seven adjoining coaches went off the track, leaving 21 passengers injured. No fatalities were recorded.
The report revealed that the automatic crossing point switch mechanism at Asham Station was unserviceable and had been manually operated. The point clip used to lock it was broken. This was the second derailment at the station in just over a year, with previous repairs described as “patchwork.”
NSIB also noted gaps in NRC operations, including lack of refresher training for personnel, poor access to spare parts, and defective equipment such as CCTV cameras and communication systems.
The bureau recommended the replacement of all damaged sleepers, use of original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts for point switches along the Abuja–Kaduna route, and restoration of all critical equipment to OEM standards. It also urged NRC to provide refresher training for its staff and address safety advisories to train drivers.
The NSIB said its final report would include further investigation into track alignment, locomotive and coach conditions, as well as crew and passenger accounts.