.png)
2 weeks ago
16
News
- …names him ambassador for media advocacy
The Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Dr. Kayode Opeifa, has tendered a public apology to the Nigerian media over his verbal assault on Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) journalist, Comrade Ladi Bala, during coverage of the Abuja–Kaduna train derailment.
Speaking at a press conference on Sunday at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) FCT Council Secretariat, Abuja, Opeifa admitted that his remarks, made under intense pressure while handling the crisis, were regrettable and not intended as an attack on the press.
Comrade Bala, immediate past president of the Nigerian Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), had been subjected to unprovoked verbal abuse while carrying out her duties at the derailment scene.
The NUJ FCT Council condemned the incident, describing it as dehumanizing and a violation of press freedom.
“I 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,” Dr. Opeifa said. “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 her resilience and professionalism, the NRC MD conferred on Comrade Bala the honorary title of Ambassador for Media Advocacy.
Providing details of the derailment, Dr. Opeifa disclosed that eight coaches and one locomotive were affected, with 618 passengers onboard. About 20 passengers sustained injuries, seven critically. He said the NRC activated its revised emergency protocol immediately, working with agencies such as the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Federal Ministry of Health, Kaduna State Government, FCT Administration, and the military.
Read Also: NRC suspends Abuja-Kaduna train operation indefinitely
Replacement coaches were deployed within 45 minutes to evacuate stranded passengers, while contact tracing was carried out using manifests. “Some passengers had already traveled to nearby towns, but we managed to trace them by phone,” he noted, adding that he personally visited seven injured passengers, including one who made his way to Zaria.
He commended the swift intervention of the Army, Air Force, police, vigilantes, and medical teams, who he said played vital roles in saving lives.
Directly addressing Bala, Opeifa said: “To her, I offer my fullest apology. I also extend the same to the NTA, NAWOJ, and the wider journalism community.”
Recalling his history as a rights activist and union leader, he said: “I have fought alongside journalists before; I am not their enemy.”
On recovery efforts, he disclosed that two coaches and one locomotive had been cleared from the site by Saturday, with two more expected to be removed by Sunday night. About 50 meters of new track had also been laid to aid recovery.
He praised the resilience of NRC’s rolling stock, saying some business-class passengers were unaware of the derailment until they disembarked, a testament to the trains’ impact-absorbing capacity.
Dr. Opeifa also highlighted recent NRC achievements, including the reactivation of the Jos–Bukuru line, expansion of the Lagos–Ibadan corridor, and plans to connect ports such as Tin Can, Warri, and Onne to the rail network—developments he described as unprecedented in six decades.
To improve communication, he announced the creation of a Customer Service and Relations Department, which has so far contacted more than 400 passengers affected by the Kaduna accident.
“The media remain our partners, not adversaries. We will deepen collaboration with the NUJ, NAWOJ, and civil society to promote transparency and public trust,” he said.
NUJ FCT Council Chairman, Comrade Grace Ike, welcomed the apology but stressed that the council maintains zero tolerance for intimidation of journalists. “We will persist in fighting for our members’ rights and freedom of speech, which is a right, not a privilege. I am pleased the MD has joined us in opposing harassment and intimidation of journalists,” she said.
“With Comrade Ladi Bala as the NRC’s Ambassador for Media Advocacy, we expect to see increased media engagement and campaigns for the welfare of Nigerian journalists, especially in the FCT,” she added.
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Special Duties, Tunde Rahman, who accompanied Dr. Opeifa, commended his humility in apologising and assured of continued collaboration between the presidency, NRC, and the media.
English (US)