Operations on the Warri-Itakpe rail line remain suspended, despite the resolution of the initial technical faults that led to the disruption, the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) announced over the weekend.
In a statement, the NRC explained that although the engine failures that disrupted service on April 9 have been resolved, the suspension originally meant to last 72 hours is being extended to allow for further safety checks and system upgrades.
“The management of the Nigerian Railway Corporation temporarily suspended full rail services on the Warri-Itakpe Train Services (WITS) on Thursday, 10th April, 2025, due to some technical and operational issues,” said Kayode Opeifa, Managing Director of the NRC. “While the major technical issues have been resolved by our technical team, additional time is required to implement necessary redundancies that will support sustainable operations in line with best practices.”
The NRC emphasized that the decision was made in the interest of passenger safety and long-term service reliability. Although engineers have addressed the core technical problems, further procedural and safety upgrades are underway to align the service with global operational standards.
This is not the first time the Warri-Itakpe service has faced disruptions. In February 2025, operations were halted due to technical faults and resumed on February 22. Additionally, in July 2024, a derailment near Ujevwu, Delta State, resulted in a brief two-day suspension. No injuries were reported in that incident.
Passengers are advised to stay tuned to official NRC channels for updates regarding the resumption of services. The Corporation expressed its appreciation for the public’s patience and reaffirmed its commitment to restoring operations as soon as all necessary upgrades are completed.
