NRC Boss Takes Full Responsibility for Abuja-Kaduna Train Derailment

|By Adejumo Adekunle

The Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Kayode Opeifa, has accepted full responsibility for the derailment of an Abuja-Kaduna passenger train on Tuesday.

Opeifa made the declaration on Wednesday while speaking on The Morning Brief, a Channels Television programme, where he assured Nigerians that the mishap would be thoroughly investigated.

“Beyond apologising to Nigeria, I want to say as the Managing Director and Chief Executive, I take full responsibility. Once it happens, the Chief Executive must take responsibility. In this case, I am taking responsibility,” he said.

He stressed that the NRC would not sweep the matter under the carpet and promised that steps were being taken to prevent a recurrence.

The NRC boss also cited ongoing safety measures on the Warri-Itakpe route, which was shut down three weeks ago for repairs. According to him, engineers have been replacing faulty tracks to guarantee safer operations.

The Abuja-Kaduna train derailed along the Kaduna corridor shortly after leaving Abuja at about 11 a.m. on Tuesday. No fatalities were reported.