The Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Dr. Kayode Opeifa, has apologized for verbally attacking a Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) reporter, Ladi Bala during the recent train derailment on the Abuja-Kaduna rail line.
The NRC chief executive tendered the apology at a press conference he addressed at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) FCT Council secretariat in Abuja.
Dr. Opeifa explained that his comments, made under stressful circumstances while responding to the derailment, were misinterpreted as hostility toward the media.
The NTA reporter Bala, who was the ex-national president of the Nigerian Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), was reportedly subjected to unwarranted verbal abuse from Dr. Opeifa while carrying out her duties at the site of the accident.
In response, the NUJ FCT Council condemned Dr. Opeifa’s behavior, calling it disrespectful and a violation of press freedom.
During the press conference, Dr. Opeifa said, “I sincerely apologize for my regrettable remarks aimed at a respected journalist.
“They reflected poorly on both the NUJ FCT and NAWOJ. In the heat of the moment, I let my pressure show through in my words, and I take full responsibility.
To honor Comrade Bala’s professionalism and commitment to reporting, Dr. Opeifa named her an “Ambassador for Media Advocacy.”
He shared that the derailment involved eight train cars and forced his team to quickly respond to the situation, ensuring safety, informing the authorities, and communicating with the public.
There were 618 passengers on board the train, with around 20 sustaining injuries—seven of them critical.
In response to the accident, the NRC promptly mobilized resources to help stranded passengers and began tracking those who had left the scene.
Dr. Opeifa visited several injured individuals to offer support personally.
He praised the quick actions of various emergency services, including the military and local responders, which helped save lives, adding that medical teams were dispatched to the scene to provide immediate care.
Dr. Opeifa made a direct apology to Comrade Bala, acknowledging that she faced the brunt of his earlier comments: “To her, I offer my fullest apology, and I extend this to the NTA, NAWOJ, and the wider journalism community.”
He emphasized his long-standing advocacy for human rights and trade unionism, stating, “I have stood by journalists before; I am not their enemy.”
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Dr. Opeifa also highlighted NRC’s commitment to gender equality within its management, noting that half of its directors are women, selected based on their abilities.
Looking ahead, Dr. Opeifa assured that the NRC aims to work closely with the media to ensure accurate information about the railway system.
He shared updates on recovery efforts from the derailment, stating that some of the damaged train parts were already being cleared from the site, with plans to expedite repairs.
He stressed the importance of accurate reporting during emergencies to avoid causing public panic and noted the NRC’s achievements over recent years, such as reopening key railway routes and expanding connections to major ports.
The NRC says it’s setting up a Customer Service and Relations Department to better communicate with passengers and the media, indicating that they had already reached out to over 400 passengers affected by the accident.
Dr. Opeifa ended by reinforcing the NRC’s dedication to improving the railway system, despite the challenges posed by the incident.
