The Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Kayode Opeifa, has said he takes full responsibility for Tuesday’s derailment of the Abuja-Kaduna train along the Kaduna corridor.

Opeifa stated this on Wednesday during an interview on The Morning Brief, a Channels Television programme, where he assured Nigerians that the incident would be thoroughly investigated and not swept under the carpet.

“Let me say, beyond apologising to Nigeria, I want to say as the Managing Director and Chief Executive, I take full responsibility. And in the case of safety, there is no indifference. Once it happens, the Chief Executive must take responsibility. In this case, I am taking responsibility,” he said.

The NRC boss noted that while the incident should not have happened, measures were already being taken to ensure it does not recur.

“I want to assure Nigerians that an incident like this is not expected, is not prayed for, should not be happening. But where it does, it is to bring out the best in us,” Opeifa added.

He further explained that the corporation had recently suspended operations on the Warri-Itakpe route for safety reasons, stressing that repair works, including track replacement, were ongoing to prevent future accidents.