The Nigerian Railway Corporation has formally apologised to a University of Ibadan lecturer, Dr Mikail Abdulsalam, who was assaulted by one of its staff members at the Obafemi Awolowo Railway station in Ibadan, describing the incident as distressing, unwarranted and contrary to the corporation's standards.
The top management staff of NRC visited Dr Abdulsalam, who teaches at the Department of Arabic and Islamic Studies, to tender the apology following the assault that occurred last week while he was assisting his sister with her journey at the station.
They were received by the leadership of the University of Ibadan Muslim community, led by Professor Mufutau Abdulrahmon and Professor Wole Abass.
In a letter dated 5 March 2026 and signed by the Railway District Manager, Ibadan, Naomi Itajobi, NRC expressed its "deepest apology and sincere regret" to Dr Abdulsalam over the incident.
The railway management described the staff member's conduct as unacceptable and contrary to the standards and values expected of the corporation's personnel when interacting with passengers and visitors.
"On behalf of the Management of the Nigerian Railway Corporation Western District and indeed the entire Organisation, I write to personally and formally express our deepest apology and sincere regret for the distressing and unwarranted incident you experienced on Wednesday, March 4th 2026, at the Obafemi Awolowo Train Station, Moniya," the letter read.
"We are profoundly saddened to learn of the altercation involving one of our staff members, Mr Tomisin Asiye, a Locomotive Driver attached to the District, which resulted in your assault, physical injury and public embarrassment. We fully acknowledge the humiliation, pain and inconvenience this incident caused you and your family while you were assisting your sister with her journey. There is no justification for the behaviour displayed, and we take full responsibility for the actions of our employee during the performance of duties at our facility."
The corporation assured the Lecturer that it is committed to enforcing necessary sanctions to prevent a recurrence of such behaviour.
Two staff members of the corporation have been arrested by the police in connection with the assault incident, signalling that both the railway management and law enforcement authorities are treating the matter with the seriousness it deserves.
