By Queen Kunde
In a dramatic twist to a brewing media storm, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Dr. Kayode Opeifa, has finally bowed to mounting pressure and publicly apologized to Nigerian journalists over demeaning remarks he made during the Abuja–Kaduna rail derailment incident.
The world press conference, convened on Sunday by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) FCT Council at its Abuja secretariat, drew a packed hall of reporters. But conspicuously absent were staff of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) the organization directly affected along with Comrade Ladi Bala, the immediate past National President of the Nigerian Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) and the target of Opeifa’s verbal assault.
Dr. Opeifa admitted that his remarks against Bala and the media were made under “intense pressure” while coordinating emergency responses to the derailment, which left 20 injured,seven critically out of 618 passengers on board.
“I wish to sincerely apologize for the regrettable remarks I made… I uttered some unkind words for which I take full responsibility,” he said, pledging renewed collaboration with the press.
In a reconciliatory gesture, he conferred on Bala the symbolic title of Ambassador for Media Advocacy, praising her professionalism.
The incident, which sparked widespread condemnation from NUJ, NAWOJ, and senior media figures, has raised deeper questions about accountability. Veteran broadcaster and media advocate Chief Mrs. Moji Makanjuola warned that the apology alone was not enough.
“The prime victim, Comrade Ladi Bala, must be personally pacified and openly apologized to,” she said. “Beyond that, there must be a full investigation and stronger ethical standards for public officials.”
She linked the incident to broader patterns of gender-based harassment and professional intimidation of journalists.
NUJ FCT Chairman ,Comrade Grace Ike, described the apology as “a welcome step” but stressed that further attacks on journalists would not be tolerated.
“Freedom of speech is a right, not a privilege. We will continue to fight for the dignity of our members,” she declared.
Also in attendance, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media, Tunde Rahman, commended Opeifa’s humility, assuring of stronger ties between government agencies and the media.
While the NRC MD’s apology may have doused immediate tensions, journalists insist the real measure will be in reforms that protect press freedom and ensure ethical conduct in public service.
For now, questions linger over the absence of NTA and Comrade Ladi Bala from the reconciliation table , a silence that speaks volumes in an unfolding battle for dignity, accountability, and respect for journalism in Nigeria.