NRC MD Yields To Pressure, Apologises to Journalists

The Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Dr. Kayode Opeifa, has publicly apologized to the Nigerian media for verbally assaulting a journalist with the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Comrade Ladi Bala while she was covering the aftermath of a train derailment along the Abuja-Kaduna rail corridor.

Speaking at a world press conference held at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) FCT Council Secretariat in Abuja, Dr. Opeifa explained that his remarks, made under intense pressure while managing the crisis, were misunderstood as hostility towards the press.

Comrade Bala, the immediate past president of the Nigerian Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), was reportedly subjected to unprovoked verbal attacks by Dr. Opeifa while performing her official duties at the derailment scene.

The NUJ FCT Council condemned Dr. Opeifa’s conduct, describing it as dehumanizing and a serious violation of press freedom.

At the press conference, Dr. Opeifa said: I wish to sincerely apologize for the regrettable remarks I made, which were directed at a seasoned journalist and reflected poorly on both the NUJ FCT and NAWOJ. Acting under pressure and in the heat of the moment while trying to ensure safety, I uttered some unkind words for which I take full responsibility.”

In recognition of Comrade Bala’s resilience, professionalism, and dedication to factual reporting despite the unfortunate incident, Dr. Opeifa bestowed upon her the honorary title of “Ambassador for Media Advocacy.”

Dr. Opeifa who said there were 618 passengers onboard at the time of the derailment, explained that seven coaches and the locomotive were damaged, with around 20 passengers sustaining injuries—seven critically, hence NRC quickly provided replacement coaches to evacuate stranded passengers and began contact tracing using passenger manifests within 45 minutes of the crash.

“Some passengers had already traveled to nearby towns, but we managed to trace them by phone,” he added. “I personally visited at least seven injured passengers, including one who had made his way to Zaria.I praised the swift response from the Nigerian Army, Air Force, police, local vigilantes, and other emergency personnel, whose actions saved lives;m.”

Dr. Opeifa tendered a direct apology to Comrade Bala and the entire NTA management, acknowledging she bore the brunt of his earlier comments
by extension to the NTA, NAWOJ, and the wider journalism community describing himself as a longtime advocate for human rights and trade unionism,with history with the Campaign for Democrcy, leadership in the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) at LASU, and involvement in the June 12 struggle for democracy.

He highlighted NRC’s gender-inclusive policies, noting that 50% of the corporation’s management directors are women promoted on merit, while reaffirming his commitment to partnering with the media to advance railway development and provide accurate, timely information.

Regarding recovery efforts, he disclosed that by Saturday two coaches and one locomotive were cleared from the crash site, with two more coaches expected to be removed before the end of today.

On media relations during emergencies, Dr. Opeifa commended journalists for their effective coverage explaining that the reactivation of the Jos–Bukuru line, expansion of the Lagos–Ibadan corridor, and plans to connect major ports like Tin Can, Warri, and Onne to the rail network, describing these as unprecedented in over 60 years of Nigerian railway history.

Dr. Opeifa also announced the establishment of a Customer Service and Relations Department to engage passengers and the media, noting that the unit had contacted over 400 passengers affected by the Kaduna accident adding that despite the accident, the NRC resolved to modernizing railway services and expand rail access in partnership with state governments and the Renewed Infrastructure Fund.

On her part, the NUJ FCT Council Chairman Comrade Grace Ike, representing the journalists, said the council would continue defending press freedom and resisting intimidation.

She welcomed the public apology, describing it as a step towards rebuilding trust while stressing that the NUJ FCT has zero tolerance for intimidation, harassment of journalists.

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Special Duties, Tunde Rahman, who accompanied Dr. Opeifa, praised the NRC boss’s humility in offering the apology and pledged ongoing collaboration between the presidency, NRC, and the media.

Garry Ochigbo, Edited By Grace Namiji