The Senate has constituted an ad hoc committee to conduct an investigation into the frequent derailments of the country’s rail lines. This followed the adoption of a motion on the recent derailment of the Ujevwu-Itakpe train line.

The motion was sponsored by Ede Dafinone (APC-Delta) at plenary in Abuja.

Terms of reference for the investigation will include a public hearing, aimed at uncovering the root causes of recurring derailments.

It will also investigate loans received from China and utilised for rail projects in Nigeria. The ad hoc committee is to be chaired by Adams Oshiomhole (APC-Edo).

Other members of the committee include Enyinnaya Abaribe (APGA-Abia), Aliyu Wamakko (APC-Sokoto), Solomon Adeola (APC-Ogun), Danjuma Goje (APC-Gombe), Ireti Kingibe (LP-FCT), Dafinone Ede (APC-Delta), and Adamu Alero (APC-Kebbi).

The committee has six weeks to complete its findings and present a detailed report to the Senate at its plenary session.

Mr Dafinone, in his motion, said that the recent Warri-Itakpe train derailment in the Agbor Delta happened four days after the resumption of train service was announced.

He stated that reports from the Nigerian Railway Corporation suggest that the derailment, which occurred at approximately 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, may have been caused by vandals.

According to him, two out of the seven coaches of the Warri–Itakpe Train Service were involved.

He said the NRC, in a statement, had noted that no casualties had been recorded.

The Senate further directed the NRC to immediately address the technical faults responsible for recent derailments and ensure restoration of the nation’s rail system to full operational capacity.

(NAN)