The Senate Ad-hoc Committee on the Investigation of the Nigerian Railway System on Tuesday held its inaugural meeting, marking the formal commencement of a wide-ranging probe into the persistent operational failures, derailments, contracting processes and overall management of the country’s rail infrastructure.
Chairman of the Committee, Senator Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole, representing Edo North Senatorial District, said the investigation became necessary following the increasing cases of train derailments across the country — including a recent incident in Delta State — which have disrupted economic activities, endangered lives and undermined confidence in the national rail system.
Oshiomhole recalled that the Senate had debated the matter extensively after a lawmaker raised a motion on the recurrent breakdowns, prompting the chamber to set up the committee to “evaluate the entire gamut” of Nigeria’s railway operations.
“The Senate in its wisdom set up this committee to assess the operations of the Nigerian railway, the construction, contracting, costing, the system, and everything that has to do with the rail sector so that we can have an overview on behalf of the Nigerian people,” he said.
Speaking after the inaugural session, he emphasized that the probe would be conducted with utmost transparency, in line with parliamentary standards, noting that the committee intends to scrutinize contract agreements, technical specifications, security measures and institutional processes affecting efficiency within the rail system.
He explained that although the committee was constituted about four weeks ago, Tuesday’s meeting marked its official inauguration due to the Senate’s tight schedule.
“We want to handle this assignment as transparently as is humanly possible. You listened to our discussions — it is open. The specifics of our scope of work and timelines are already clearly outlined,” he said.
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On agencies central to the investigation, Oshiomhole identified the Federal Ministry of Transportation — which oversees all railway projects — and the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) as primary stakeholders. He added that various subsidiary agencies and units under the NRC, including asset management and tracking systems, would also be involved.
The committee is expected to engage contractors, government agencies and industry experts as it works to produce a comprehensive report aimed at improving safety, operational reliability and accountability in Nigeria’s railway sector.
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