NRC explains Kaduna-Abuja train breakdown, apologises to passengers

The Nigerian Railway Corporation has said a failed locomotive turbocharger was responsible for the breakdown of its Kaduna-Abuja train last Friday.

Managing Director of the NRC, Engr Fidet Okhiria, gave the explanation in a statement on Saturday, and promised that such incident would not happen again.

The Abuja bound train had stopped shortly after leaving Kaduna on Friday and its passengers were stranded for over an hour before they could continue their journey.

A video that was circulated on the social media showed passengers taking fresh air outside the train while the faulty train was being fixed.

One of the passengers was heard saying in the video that the train had been at the location for about two hours.

A statement by Taiye Elebiyo-Edeni, the media assistant to the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, reported the NRC boss as apologising to the affected train passengers.

He was quoted as saying, “The locomotive’s turbocharger failed and we apologise for that.

“We are working hard to avoid such occurrence in future. By Monday, the train service would be operational.”

Okhiria said the incident did not affect the train’s operation.

He pledged the corporation’s commitment to the safety of its passengers at all times.