The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) on Thursday announced the suspension of its Warri-Itakpe train service, after it experienced multiple technical issues.
The standard gauge train was said to have broken down midway on Tuesday, creating some panic situation among passengers on board.
It said in a statement that the decision to suspend the train operation would allow its technical team “to conduct a full audit, resolve all identified issues, and restore safe and reliable service.”
The NRC statement signed by Henrietta Eregare of the NRC Public Relations Department, read in part, “The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) wishes to inform the general public and our valued passengers that a significant disruption occurred on the Warri-Itakpe rail line on Tuesday, April 9, 2025, due to multiple technical issues involving a train engine failure.
“Management has consequently suspended train services on the route for 72 hours.
“The disruption commenced at approximately 1:38pm and affected both the 8am departure from Warri and the 2pm train from Itakpe.
“Emergency recovery protocols were immediately activated but also suffered a setback due to engine failures.”
It recalled how the corporation swiftly arranged for the safe evacuation of all passengers through road transportation with adequate security presence.
“Passengers were guided off the affected train to waiting cars approximately 500 meters from the track.
It stated, “Some Passengers chose to arrange their own transportation before the arrival of official recovery vehicles—a decision NRC understands given the delay.”
The corporation also disclosed that adequate arrangements had been made for a full refund of the value of tickets to passengers involved in the disrupted trains.
Those interested in using their tickets for future trips can take advantage of the revalidation option, according to the NRC.
“Refund and revalidation process is available on our online ticketing platforms, via our customer service lines, and at all NRC stations,” the statement added.
It expressed regret for the inconvenience caused by the unexpected disruption.
It said, “The Nigerian Railway Corporation takes full responsibility and is actively working to restore normal operations as quickly as possible. We remain committed to the safety, reliability, and comfort of our passengers.”
