I take full responsibility for Abuja-Kaduna train derailment — NRC MD

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

Speaking on The Morning Brief, a Channels Television programme, on Wednesday, Opeifa acknowledged the gravity of the incident, which occurred along the Kaduna corridor, and assured Nigerians that accountability would not be compromised.

He emphasized that the ongoing investigation into the derailment would be thorough and transparent, dismissing fears that the matter might be swept under the carpet.

“Let me say, beyond apologising to Nigeria, I want to say as the Managing Director and Chief Executive, I take full responsibility. And in the case of safety, there is no indifference.

“Once it happens, the Chief Executive must take responsibility. In this case, I am taking responsibility,” Opeifa said.

According to him, though the incident should not have happened, the NRC would ensure that there is no recurrence.

“I want to assure Nigerians that an incident like this is not expected, is not prayed for, should not be happening, but where it does, it is to bring out the best in us.

“And I assure Nigerians that just as we are doing currently on the Warri-Itakpe, which he (the analyst) also mentioned, we shut down the Warri-Itakpe (route) three weeks ago.

“I ordered the shutdown for safety reasons, and if you see the level of work the men have been doing on the track, cutting it off and replacing it is to make sure things like this don’t happen,” he added.

Platinumpost reports that the incident occurred on Tuesday along the Kaduna corridor shortly after the train left Abuja at about 11 a.m., en route to Kaduna.