***Sets up high-powered committee chaired by Senator Adams Oshiomhole
Mounting concerns over safety lapses and opaque loan management in Nigeria’s rail sector have prompted the Senate to open a far-reaching investigation into recurring train derailments and the handling of multi-trillion-naira Chinese loans for railway development.
The resolution followed a motion sponsored by Senator Ede Dafinone (Delta Central) on “The Recent Derailment of the Ujevwu–Itakpe Train Line and the Need for Urgent Investigation, Rehabilitation, and Enhanced Safety Measures to Protect Passengers and National Infrastructure.”
Presiding over the plenary, Senate President Godswill Akpabio described the issue as “a matter of national conscience,” lamenting that despite heavy foreign loans and repeated government assurances, Nigeria’s rail sector continues to suffer systemic failures.
“This is the conscience of the Senate, and we must take it very seriously,” Akpabio declared. “We took trillions of naira in loans from China for rail development, yet we have never had one uninterrupted year of service. The tracks are failing, the trains are derailing, and Nigerians deserve to know why.”
In his motion, Senator Dafinone noted that the Ujevwu–Itakpe Standard Gauge Rail Line remains one of Nigeria’s most strategic transport corridors—linking the South-South through Delta State to the North-Central region—and plays a crucial role in the movement of passengers, goods, and industrial materials.
He, however, expressed concern that within just four days of resuming operations after a three-month suspension, the line had suffered a series of alarming breakdowns, including maintenance downtime, mechanical faults, and finally, a derailment near Agbor, Delta State, on Saturday, November 1, 2025.
“These recurring failures point to grave safety lapses, inadequate technical supervision, and poor maintenance culture within the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC),” Dafinone said.
“If unaddressed, these incidents could lead to tragic consequences in the future—a risk that cannot be ignored.”
The senator recalled multiple incidents along the same corridor, including derailments in January 2023, May 2024, July 2024, and December 2024, as well as recurring vandalisation of rail clips and signaling cables that have compromised track integrity.
He noted that while no lives had been lost, the pattern of neglect has become a national embarrassment that undermines public confidence and endangers billions of naira in infrastructure investments.
Dafinone further observed that despite completed feasibility studies for the extension of the Ujevwu–Itakpe line to Abuja, the project remains stalled, forcing passengers to travel by road between Itakpe and the Federal Capital—an oversight that “defeats the economic purpose” of the corridor.
Following deliberations, the Senate adopted the motion and resolved to urge the Federal Ministry of Transportation and the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) to conduct an independent technical assessment of the Ujevwu–Itakpe line to determine the root causes of mechanical failures, vandalism, and derailments;
It also mandate the Senate Committee on Land Transport to undertake an on-the-spot oversight visit to the affected corridor and report back within two weeks;
The Upper Legislative chanber called on the Federal Government to provide adequate funding for rehabilitation, modernization, and safety upgrades, including installation of advanced signaling systems, CCTV surveillance, and emergency response units;
It also request that the NRC expand its operational capacity to at least two daily passenger services in each direction to ease congestion and improve reliability;
It also resolved to urge the immediate implementation of the Ujevwu–Itakpe–Abuja extension to enhance inter-regional connectivity
The senate went further to direct the NRC to institutionalize preventive maintenance, safety audits, and stronger passenger communication systems
The Red Chamber recommended the establishment of a National Rail Safety and Standards Unit to ensure regular audits, enforce international standards, and promote accountability across Nigeria’s rail network.
In response to the motion, the Senate President announced the constitution of a high-powered ad hoc committee to conduct a comprehensive probe into the persistent derailments, the management of rail contracts, and the application of Chinese loans for rail projects.
The committee is chaired by Senator Adams Oshiomhole (APC, Edo North) and includes Senator Osita Ngwu (Enugu West), Senator Ireti Kingibe (FCT), Senator Sahabi Yau, and the motion sponsor, Senator Ede Dafinone (Delta Central).
Akpabio also directed the committee to invite former ministers, permanent secretaries, and relevant technical officers in the transport and finance ministries to assist with historical and financial data, while avoiding conflicts of interest.
“We must find out why Nigeria’s rail investments are failing while other countries that took similar loans from China are thriving,” Akpabio said. “Go all the way, investigate every loan and every derailment, and bring us a report that will restore public confidence and integrity to our national rail system.”
The committee has four weeks to submit its report.
The motion and the constitution of the ad hoc committee were unanimously adopted by the Senate.