Train services on the Warri-Itakpe corridor have been temporarily shut down following a technical breakdown that left passengers stranded and forced emergency evacuations on Tuesday afternoon.
In a statement issued Thursday, the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) explained that the disruption—caused by multiple engine failures—occurred at approximately 1:38 PM on April 9, interrupting both the morning Warri-bound train and the afternoon departure from Itakpe.
“The situation required immediate activation of emergency recovery protocols,” the NRC’s spokesperson, Henrietta Eregare, said. “Unfortunately, those efforts also encountered setbacks due to additional technical issues with the recovery engine.”
In response, the NRC halted all operations along the route for 72 hours to allow for a comprehensive technical audit. The goal, they said, is to identify root causes, carry out repairs, and ensure the safety and reliability of future services.
For many of the affected passengers, the experience was unnerving. NRC staff guided people off the disabled train to vehicles waiting about 500 meters from the track. While official transport was on its way, some passengers opted to make their own arrangements, a decision the NRC acknowledged and understood given the circumstances.
Though no injuries were reported, the incident underscores ongoing concerns about infrastructure reliability within the country’s rail network.
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In a bid to ease frustrations, the NRC assured affected passengers that full refunds or revalidations would be honored.
“All the necessary information is available on our online ticketing platforms, at NRC stations, and through our customer service lines,” the statement said.
The Corporation also offered an apology for the disruption and expressed gratitude for passengers’ patience. “We take full responsibility and are working tirelessly to restore normal operations,” Eregare said.
As train services remain paused, attention turns to how quickly and effectively the NRC can respond—and whether deeper issues in Nigeria’s rail system will be addressed in the process.