When Decorum Derails: NUJ Demands Apology As NRC Boss Goes Off the Rails

BY GBOGBOWA GBOWA

In what can only be described as a master class in public misconduct, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Mr. Kayode Opeifa, may have landed himself in hot water after a reported tirade against a journalist from the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA)—yes, the government-owned broadcaster.

On August 27, while covering the aftermath of a train derailment along the Abuja-Kaduna rail line, Comrade Ladi Bala, a seasoned transport reporter and former president of the Nigerian Association of Women Journalists, found herself at the receiving end of a verbal storm.

According to eyewitnesses and a strongly worded statement from the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) FCT Council, Opeifa allegedly hurled insults like “you are stupid,” “foolish woman,” and “who is watching NTA?”—a question that managed to insult both the reporter and the institution she represents.

Bala was reportedly doing her job—live reporting from the scene—when the MD disrupted her coverage, threatened her with removal, and eventually ordered security to “bundle” her away. The drama didn’t stop there. When NUJ officials tried to mediate, Opeifa allegedly doubled down, threatening to escalate the matter to the Presidency and vowing to bar Bala from future NRC events. Even NUJ Chairman Grace Ike was reportedly not spared from his verbal lashings.

The NUJ FCT Council, in a statement signed by Comrade Jide Oyekunle, condemned the MD’s behavior as “dehumanizing” “a grave threat to press freedom” and “an affront to democracy”, as the union has demanded an immediate and unreserved public apology and calling on the NRC to take swift action to prevent future incidents.

This isn’t just about one journalist—it’s about the broader climate of hostility toward media practitioners in Nigeria. The NUJ is standing firm, pledging to pursue all necessary channels to protect journalists, especially women, from harassment and intimidation.

So, while the trains may be derailing physically, it seems decorum and respect for press freedom may have also gone off track.