The Nigerian Railway Corporation has reassured passengers using the Abuja to Kaduna Train Service that the recent disruptions on the route are temporary and do not reflect neglect or lack of commitment to the corridor. The Corporation shared this position in a formal statement issued by the Chief Public Relations Officer, Callistus Unyimadu, who acknowledged the public concerns surrounding the situation.
In the statement, the Corporation noted, “We appreciate the passion, concern, and sense of national responsibility expressed. These are genuine sentiments shared by a concerned customer and patriotic Nigerians. We value all our customers and take every feedback seriously.” Officials described the Abuja to Kaduna corridor as one of the central pillars of the country’s efforts to modernise railway operations and insisted that even minor interruptions tend to attract wide attention due to the significance of the service.
The Corporation also addressed the discomfort faced by commuters since the August incident that affected one of its key Diesel Multiple Unit trains. According to the statement, “We acknowledge the discomfort experienced by our numerous commuters who have had to bear the reduction in services caused by the August 26 incident, which damaged our flagship Diesel Multiple Unit rolling stock. We regret the inconveniences this has caused.”
As the statement progressed, the Corporation pointed to two main setbacks currently influencing the service frequency. The first relates to the impact of the security incident that occurred in March 2022, which led to broad adjustments to strengthen passenger protection. The Corporation explained that this development required it to redesign operating procedures, impose limits on late operations, and enhance collaboration with national security agencies.
The second challenge highlighted was the recent derailment, which affected several coaches and reduced the number of available rolling stock. The Corporation stated that repairs are ongoing, accompanied by work to deploy additional coaches that can help restore normal service levels as soon as possible.
Okay News reports that the Corporation emphasised its long-term recovery plans rather than any deterioration in service quality. In its words, the current challenges “do not represent a decline in our commitment. They reflect a phase of recovery, restoration, and rebuilding.”
The Corporation further noted the involvement of the Federal Government under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, stressing that the Minister of Transport is working closely with the agency to speed up full restoration of the corridor. Officials added that work is ongoing to certify damaged coaches for safe service return and to strengthen security along the entire route.
Restoring multiple daily trips remains one of the highest priorities for the agency. With this goal in sight, the Corporation called on passengers to remain patient as the restoration process continues. It stated, “We respectfully appeal for continued understanding and patience as we work tirelessly to return the Abuja-Kaduna Train Service to its full schedule. We are confident that passengers will witness progressive improvement and, ultimately, the complete normalisation of services as the restoration process advances.”
The Abuja to Kaduna Train Service has faced operational and maintenance constraints in recent years, which shaped public views on rail safety and infrastructure standards. The recent derailment at Asham Station on August 26, 2025, further raised questions about maintenance practices, coming slightly more than a year after a similar incident at the same location. The Corporation said ongoing reviews aim to strengthen reliability across the route.
