Reps Summon Transportation Minister Over Urgent Railway Safety Concerns After Train Derailment

Reps Summon Transportation Minister Over Urgent Railway Safety Concerns After Train Derailment

ABUJA, FCT – September 10, 2025 – The House of Representatives has issued a formal summons to the Minister of Transportation, Senator Said Ahmed Alkali, demanding his appearance before its Committee on Land Transport within 48 hours. The summons comes after the Minister failed to attend an emergency session convened to address urgent safety issues plaguing Nigeria’s railway networks, particularly a recent train derailment.

The development was announced in a press release on Tuesday by the Spokesman of the House, Rep. Akin Rotimi Jr.

Reps Summon Transportation Minister Over Urgent Railway Safety Concerns After Train Derailment

The Catalyst: Derailment on the Abuja-Kaduna Corridor

The emergency meeting of the committee, chaired by Rep. Blessing Onyeche Onuh, was called to address critical issues, most notably the derailment of a Kaduna-bound passenger train at Asham Station on August 26, 2025.

Key outcomes of the incident include:

Injuries to passengers and significant damage to railway infrastructure.

The indefinite suspension of train services along the heavily trafficked Abuja–Kaduna corridor.

The committee had intended to receive a comprehensive briefing from the Minister and other key stakeholders on safety measures, project status, and broader operational issues within the sector.

“Unacceptable”: Committee Rejects Minister’s Delegation

Members of the committee expressed deep concern and disappointment over Senator Alkali’s failure to appear at the crucial meeting. Instead of attending personally, the Minister attempted to verbally delegate a representative, an action the committee rejected as a direct contravention of the Standing Orders of the House.

The committee also condemned the absence of another critical stakeholder, the Managing Director of the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC). While the Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Dr. Kayode Opeifa, was present, the absence of the Minister and the CCECC MD was described as “unacceptable”.

The House emphasized that no other assignment should take precedence over accountability when the lives of Nigerians are at stake. “The Committee, having rejected the Minister’s verbal attempt at delegation, adjourned for 48 hours and resolved to issue a formal summons for his personal appearance, and that of the CCECC Managing Director,” the statement read.

A Pattern of Concern on a Critical Route

This latest incident is part of a troubling pattern of accidents across Nigeria’s railway system, with derailments emerging as the most frequent issue. The Abuja-Kaduna corridor, one of the country’s busiest and most important passenger routes, has been particularly affected.

Another derailment was reported along the same corridor in May 2024 at Jeremy Station. In response, the committee has vowed to conduct a thorough inquiry into the safety, operational, and contractual matters affecting the nation’s railway system to ensure accountability and prevent future occurrences.