The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has stated that the preliminary report on the derailment of the Abuja-Kaduna Train at Asham Train Station.
The Director General of the NSIB, Capt. Alex Badeh Jr who disclosed this at a press briefing also confirmed that 12 people were injured out of the 583 passengers who were on board the train before the derailment.
This is just as the bureau urged the federal government and relevant stakeholders to urgently address the agency's funding gap, warning that inadequate resources pose a direct threat to public safety.
The DG explained that an Investigator-in-Charge (IIC) has been appointed to lead the probe, working alongside relevant stakeholders, including the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NLC).
Keep up with the latest headlines on WhatsApp | LinkedIn
According to him, "the team has already taken evidence-protection measures, such as securing the site and preserving critical data, including CCTV footage and other materials that could help determine the cause of the derailment."
Badeh appealed to the Federal Government and other stakeholders to address funding shortfalls in order to enhance the bureau's capacity for thorough investigations and safeguard the lives of Nigerians.
"Hopefully, the final report will be released within 30 days of the incident, 23 days from today, since we had started since last week which was the day of the incident and it will be shared with the NRC, regulatory authorities, and the general public," he explained.
Daily Trust reports that the incident occurred last week Tuesday along the Kaduna corridor shortly after the train left Abuja at about 11 am, en route to Kaduna.
Following the incident, the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) suspended train operations on the Abuja-Kaduna route till further notice.
Opeifa had while briefing journalists in Abuja on Tuesday, hours after the incident said that some technical staff of the corporation, alongside the NSIB and other relevant agencies, were on the ground at the train derailment site carrying out an investigation.
...Demand for funding
The DG stated that with the expansion of rail services and increasing demands across transport modes, the Bureau must be properly funded to equip and train investigators to international standards.
He added that the Asham derailment highlights the need for rigorous safety oversight in Nigeria's railway operations.
According to him, more funding to the bureau would go a long way in improving transportation safety.
Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters
Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox
Daily Trust reports that under the NSIB 2022 Act, some transportation related agencies including the NRC and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) are expected to be remitting a certain percentage of their incomes to the bureau to support its new multimodal accident investigation status.
