By Obiabin Onukwugha
The House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions has questioned the Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Dr. Kayode Opeifa, over the cost and safety of the 186-kilometre Abuja-Kaduna rail line.
The committee, chaired by Hon. Kwamoti Laori, was considering a petition filed by the Citizens Whistleblowers Coalition (CWC), which is calling for an investigation into Nigeria’s railway infrastructure and a value-for-money audit of the Abuja-Kaduna rail project.
In its petition submitted in September 2025, the group alleged that the rail line was constructed at a cost of N1.7 billion, approximately $4.7 million per kilometre. It also raised concerns over frequent train derailments, arguing that the incidents had made railway transportation in Nigeria unsafe.
During the Committee’s sitting on Wednesday, Chairman of the Committee, Hon Laori expressed displeasure over the repeated absence of NRC Management at previous hearings, describing the situation as “disrespectful to the parliament.”
In his explanation, Opeifa apologised for the corporation’s absence, explaining that the petition had only recently come to his attention, and that his office was located in Lagos.
Laori rejected the explanation, questioning whether the NRC managing director had not been receiving hearing notices. He also challenged the suggestion that his location in Lagos was a valid reason for not attending the proceedings, asking whether Lagos was outside Nigeria’s jurisdiction.
Addressing the allegations in the petition, Opeifa commended the Citizens Whistleblowers Coalition for raising important concerns about the railway sector. He, however, submitted that the procurement of railway infrastructure was not within the mandate of the NRC.
According to him, the responsibility for procuring railway infrastructure rests with the Federal Ministry of Transportation and the Federal Executive Council (FEC), rather than the railway corporation.
He therefore maintained that the NRC could not provide answers on the amount spent on the Abuja-Kaduna rail corridor because it was not responsible for the project’s procurement.
The committee agreed with Opeifa’s position on the division of responsibilities for procurement.
Consequently, Laori directed the Citizens Whistleblowers Coalition to amend its petition to include the Federal Ministry of Transportation as a co-respondent. The ministry is expected to explain the cost of the project and answer questions concerning the funds spent on the rail line.
On the issue of frequent train derailments, the NRC managing director told the committee that such incidents occurred globally and were not peculiar to Nigeria.
Laori also disagreed with the explanation, stressing that rail transportation was widely regarded as one of the safest means of transportation in the world.
He expressed concern over the recent increase in derailments on Nigerian railway tracks, describing the situation as worrisome and unacceptable.
The committee chairman subsequently directed Opeifa to submit a formal written response to the petition. The response will enable the petitioners to study the NRC’s position and file a rejoinder.
Following the proceedings, the committee adjourned the hearing until November 12, 2026, when consideration of the petition is expected to continue.
It also directed the Federal Ministry of Transportation to appear before the committee to address questions relating to the project’s cost.
Reacting after the sitting, the Citizens Whistleblowers Coalition, led by Comrade Karl Chinedu, said Nigerians deserved to know how public funds were spent on the Abuja-Kaduna rail project and why a mode of transportation expected to provide safe and reliable services was experiencing repeated derailments.
The group maintained that questions surrounding the cost of the project and the safety of railway operations needed to be properly addressed in the interest of public accountability and passenger safety.
