The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has confirmed that 12 passengers were injured when an Asham train carrying 583 people derailed in Abuja last week.
NSIB Director General, Captain Alex Badeh, disclosed this on Tuesday while providing updates on the investigation. He said an Investigator-in-Charge has been appointed to lead the probe in collaboration with the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) and other stakeholders.
According to him, investigators have already secured the crash site and preserved critical evidence, including CCTV footage and other materials, to help determine the cause of the derailment.
Badeh appealed to the Federal Government to address funding shortfalls affecting the bureau, stressing that improved resources were needed to strengthen safety investigations and protect lives.
The NSIB said its final report on the incident would be released within 30 days and shared with the NRC, regulatory bodies, and the public.
The derailment occurred last Tuesday along the Kaduna corridor, shortly after the train departed Abuja at about 11 a.m. en route to Kaduna. Passengers described the aftermath as chaotic, with many scrambling for safety.
The NRC has since suspended operations on the Abuja-Kaduna route pending the outcome of the investigation. The corporation also announced that refunds have been initiated for all passengers on board and dismissed claims that its trains were in poor condition.
