Even after the technical issues that caused the interruption have been fixed, the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has declared that the Warri-Itakpe Train Services (WITS) will remain suspended.
The suspension will stay in place while the company concentrates on additional safety and service enhancements, the NRC said in a statement.
Engine issues that jeopardized passenger safety and service dependability were said to be the primary cause of the suspension, which started on April 10, 2025.
The NRC acknowledged that further time is required to complete upgrades targeted at guaranteeing the long-term efficiency and safety of the Warri-Itakpe line, even though the 72-hour suspension period that was originally scheduled to end on April 13 has passed.
According to the NRC’s statement, the suspension was required to give the company time to enhance its systems and add safety redundancies, which would improve customer satisfaction and bring it into compliance with international best practices.
Even though the fundamental technical problems have been fixed, more time is needed for additional procedural improvements.
The technical team has resolved the main problems, but the company needs additional time to finish the changes that would support sustainable operations, NRC Managing Director Kayode Opeifa promised the public.
He emphasized how crucial these actions are to raising operational effectiveness and safety requirements.
“In accordance with best practices, we are putting in place the necessary redundancies to support sustainable operations,” Dr. Opeifa said.
The Warri-Itakpe Train Services have had disruptions before. After a two-day break, operations resumed in February 2025 after being halted by a technical issue. Although there were no reported injuries, a derailment near Ujevwu, Delta State, in July 2024, prompted a two-day repair suspension.
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Notwithstanding these obstacles, the NRC is nevertheless dedicated to quickly resuming operations at Warri-Itakpe, with a focus on increased dependability and efficiency.
In order to stay updated on the Warri-Itakpe service’s status, the NRC has advised travelers to use official channels. The company reaffirmed that passenger happiness and safety continue to be its top priorities.
