Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called for urgent reforms in Nigeria’s transport system following the derailment of a passenger train on the Abuja-Kaduna route earlier this week.
In a post on his official X handle Thursday, Atiku expressed relief that no lives were lost but stressed that the incident exposed serious safety flaws.
“It is a relief that there were no fatalities, but this incident underscores the urgent need for action,” he said.
“We need transparent updates and a commitment to strengthening safety protocols that will restore public confidence in our rail infrastructure.”
The derailment, which occurred Tuesday morning near KM 49 between Kubwa and Asham stations, caused several carriages to overturn and left at least six passengers injured, according to the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB). A go-team has been deployed to the site to investigate.
Minister of Transportation Said Alkali confirmed the formation of a federal committee to probe the incident.
The committee is expected to recommend measures to prevent future derailments and enhance rail safety nationwide.