Contrary to widely spread reports that passengers on a recent Kaduna-Abuja train service were left stranded, the Nigerian Railway Corporation, NRC, has clarified that all commuters were safely transported despite a brief safety-related engine issue.
The incident, which occurred on the Abuja-bound afternoon service on Thursday, came just weeks after the scary Abuja-Kaduna train derailment, raising concerns among commuters.
However, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, NRC, Dr. Kayode Opeifa, has dismissed reports suggesting passengers were left stranded, describing such claims as misleading.
Opeifa, in a statement on Friday, explained that the temporary halt was a procedural safety decision triggered when the backup engine began losing power less than thirty minutes into the journey, forcing the train to return to Rigasa station.
According to him, “Though the train could push through, for security concerns on the route and since they were less than thirty minutes into the journey, it was advisable to pull back to Rigasa for safety reasons.”
He disclosed that the train resumed its trip at 4 pm, arriving at Idu station at 18:52 hours, roughly eighty minutes behind schedule. Passengers were kept informed throughout the delay via announcements on board and at Rigasa station.
Opeifa likened the action to standard aviation practice, where aircraft divert to the nearest airport when faced with engine trouble. He noted that while the train could have continued during a morning service, the evening timing made a return to Kaduna the safer option.
He apologised for the inconvenience and urged media outlets to verify operational reports before publication to avoid spreading misinformation.
The NRC boss reaffirmed the corporation’s commitment to high safety and reliability standards across both its narrow and standard gauge corridors, emphasizing that all passengers were safely transported to their destinations.
