NRC MD APOLOGIZES TO MEDIA, NTA JOURNALIST FOR VERBAL ASSAULT

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

The NRC boss also bestowed upon Comrade Bala the honorary title of “Ambassador for Media Advocacy” in recognition of her resilience, professionalism, and dedication to factual reporting despite the unfortunate incident. “To her, I offer my fullest apology. I also extend the same to the NTA, NAWOJ, and the wider journalism community,” he said.

Dr. Opeifa detailed the derailment incident, which involved eight coaches and one locomotive, and placed huge demands on his team to coordinate rescue efforts, inform the presidency and the public, and activate emergency procedures simultaneously. He praised the swift response from the Nigerian Army, Air Force, police, local vigilantes, and other emergency personnel, whose actions saved lives.

The NUJ FCT Council Chairman Comrade Grace Ike welcomed the public apology as a step toward rebuilding trust while stressing that the NUJ FCT has zero tolerance for intimidation and harassment of journalists. “We will persist in fighting for our members’ rights and freedom of speech, which is a right, not a privilege,” she said.

Dr. Opeifa reaffirmed his commitment to partnering with the media to advance railway development and provide accurate, timely information. He also highlighted NRC’s gender-inclusive policies and announced the establishment of a Customer Service and Relations Department to engage passengers and the media.