The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has announced that the Warri-Itakpe Train Service will remain suspended despite recent repairs to technical faults. The suspension, which began on April 10, 2025, was initially intended to last 72 hours following multiple engine failures that raised safety concerns.
In a statement released over the weekend, NRC explained that while engineers have resolved the core issues, additional time is needed to implement safety redundancies and system upgrades. These measures are aimed at ensuring the long-term reliability of the service and aligning operations with global safety standards.
NRC Managing Director, Dr. Kayode Opeifa, emphasized the importance of these extra precautions: “Although the major technical problems have been fixed, we require more time to put in place necessary safeguards that will support sustainable and safe operations.”
Passengers affected by the suspension are entitled to full refunds or can choose to revalidate their tickets for future travel. The NRC has made these options available online, through customer service, and at railway stations.
This latest disruption follows a series of challenges for the Warri-Itakpe line, including a technical fault in February 2025 and a derailment near Ujevwu, Delta State, in July 2024, which led to temporary service halts.
The NRC has thanked passengers for their patience and assured the public that the service will resume as soon as these critical safety upgrades are completed. Passengers are encouraged to stay updated through official NRC communication channels.
Safety and operational reliability remain the corporation’s top priorities as it works to restore full service on this vital rail corridor.
