House Of Representatives Summons-Transportation Minister Over Abuja-Kaduna Train Derailments (Full Details)

House Of Representatives Summons-Transportation Minister Over Abuja-Kaduna Train Derailments (Full Details)

The House of Representatives, in its session on Tuesday, June 11, has decided to call upon the Minister of Transportation to provide explanations regarding the recurrent derailments plaguing the Abuja-Kaduna train services. Alongside other pertinent stakeholders in the railway sector, the minister will appear before the House committee on land transportation to elucidate the causes behind these incidents and detail measures taken to prevent their recurrence.

This decision comes following a motion of urgent importance titled, “An Urgent Need to Investigate the Causes of the Recurring Derailment of Abuja-Kaduna Passengers Train which Skidded Twice in the Last Two Weeks with Hundreds of Passengers on Board,” sponsored by Hon. Umar Shehu Ajilo.

The House underscored the significance of rail transportation and its presumed status as the safest mode of travel globally. However, the recent spate of derailments along the Abuja-Kaduna rail line has raised serious concerns, prompting urgent action from the legislative body.

The motion emphasized the pivotal role played by the Abuja-Kaduna train services in facilitating both passenger and cargo transportation between the two cities, highlighting its significant economic and social impact on Nigeria. It lamented the alarming frequency of derailments, with the most recent incident occurring on June 5th, 2024, at Asha Station, leaving numerous passengers stranded in the Federal Capital Territory.

With the recurrence of such incidents within a short timeframe, the House emphasized the urgency of investigating these occurrences to prevent any potential national disaster. The committee on land transportation has been tasked with conducting a thorough investigation into the root causes of these derailments and is expected to report back to the House within four weeks for further legislative action.

As the House seeks to address these safety concerns and ensure the reliability of rail transportation, the summoning of the transportation minister and the subsequent investigation reflect a concerted effort to uphold the safety and security of Nigeria’s railway infrastructure.