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The House of Representatives Committee on Land Transport plans to summon officials from the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) and the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) for questioning following the recent derailment of a Kaduna-bound train that injured approximately seven passengers.
The incident occurred on Tuesday, August 26, when a 10-coach train bound for Kaduna left the tracks, raising serious concerns about passenger safety.
The derailment sparked widespread public criticism, with many Nigerians questioning the state of railway maintenance, even as authorities continue to investigate the cause of the accident.
On Monday, September 1, Blessing Onu, Chairman of the House Committee on Land Transport, condemned the recurring train accidents across the country, calling them both embarrassing and unacceptable.
Representing Ohimini/Otukpo Federal Constituency in Benue State under the All Progressives Congress (APC), Onu affirmed that the committee would fulfill its mandate by demanding accountability and answers on behalf of millions of Nigerians.
Onuh said, “The train derailment on Tuesday was unfortunate, and to the Glory of God, no life was lost. But how long shall we continue to tolerate these avoidable situations? Rail transportation remains the safest means of movement across the world. In most countries, you won’t hear of train mishaps for decades. Why is ours, that is a few years old, different? These incidents are becoming too frequent, and we cannot fold our hands and do nothing about this.
“The Committee on Land Transport will, in the next few days, invite the Nigerian Railway Corporation, the contractor that handled the projects and other relevant stakeholders. We want to hear from them and get assurances that this will not happen again.
“More importantly, we want to know what they are putting in place to enhance safety and deliver top-notch services to our esteemed passengers.
“Enough is enough! We must get to the root of this and fix whatever needs to be fixed.”
Speaking on behalf of the Committee and the entire House of Representatives, the federal lawmaker extended condolences to the victims of the accident and reaffirmed the legislature’s commitment to ensuring their safety and security.
She also urged the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau to fast-track its ongoing probe into the incident and to propose preventive measures that would help avert similar occurrences in the future.
“Our prayers and love are with the victims and families of those involved in the crash. We will do everything possible to ensure that rail transportation remains safe for Nigerians across all the corridors.
“We call on the NSIB to leave no stone unturned in turning in its report as soon as possible,” Onuh added.
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