The Nigerian Senate has opened a sweeping investigation into railway projects executed under former President Muhammadu Buhari following a series of derailments, vandalism, and mechanical faults that have plagued the Itakpe–Warri rail corridor.
Key Highlights:
The Senate orders a full-scale probe into Buhari-era rail projects after 10 derailments in two years, questions quality of construction and loan spending, and demands immediate technical audit by the Ministry of Transportation and NRC.
During Tuesday’s plenary, Senator Ede Dafinone (APC, Delta Central) moved a motion that exposed the troubling state of the Itakpe–Warri line, which has suffered at least ten derailments and several operational breakdowns between 2023 and 2025. He warned that the recurring incidents had shaken public confidence and raised urgent questions about engineering standards, maintenance culture, and project supervision.
In response, the Senate constituted an ad hoc committee to conduct a full-scale investigation into all railway contracts and projects executed under the Buhari administration, with a report expected within six weeks.
Dafinone called on the Federal Ministry of Transportation and the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) to immediately carry out an independent technical assessment of the corridor to identify the root causes of the repeated failures. He also proposed that the Senate Committee on Land Transport visit the Agbor section of Delta State for an on-the-spot evaluation and safety inspection.
He further urged the creation of a National Rail Safety and Standards Unit to enforce regular safety audits and ensure compliance with international best practices across all railway corridors. Dafinone also pressed for the completion of the Itakpe–Abuja extension to ease passenger congestion and enhance service reliability.
Senator Abdul Ningi (PDP, Bauchi Central) described the situation as a “national embarrassment,” criticizing the massive loans taken to finance the railway projects that are now failing within a short period. He argued that Nigerians deserve accountability on how public funds were spent.
Senator Patrick Ndubueze (APC, Imo North) demanded a full reorganisation of the NRC, accusing it of inefficiency and failure to deliver on its mandate. He said that until the corporation is restructured, Nigeria’s rail transport system will remain unreliable and unsafe.
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Backing the motion, Senator Solomon Adeola (APC, Ogun West) insisted on full transparency, calling for details of how much was borrowed, how much was spent, and whether contracts were properly supervised. He said the pattern of faults pointed to either poor engineering or inadequate oversight during construction.
Senator Babangida Hussaini (APC, Jigawa North-West) attributed the problems to weak project planning and a poor maintenance culture. According to him, the same contractors have delivered quality rail systems in other African countries, yet Nigeria’s system began collapsing shortly after commissioning. He lamented that the failure of the rail network has pushed more cargo traffic onto roads, worsening their deterioration.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio described the motion as “timely and essential,” affirming that the chamber would not treat the issue lightly. He said the probe would trace the entire process, from the loans secured for the projects to their implementation and maintenance, stressing that Nigerians deserve full transparency and accountability.
“This is not a partisan issue,” Akpabio declared. “The derailments began before this administration took office. We must find out what went wrong and ensure such national waste and safety risks never happen again.”
