Despite the resolution of the technical issues that caused the disruption, the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has declared that the Warri-Itakpe Train Services (WITS) will continue to be suspended.
The NRC said in a statement that the suspension will continue while the company concentrates on additional safety and service enhancements.
According to reports, the suspension, which started on April 10, 2025, was first brought on by engine problems that jeopardized passenger safety and dependability of operation.
Although the 72-hour suspension period, which was originally scheduled to conclude on April 13, has ended, the NRC acknowledged that further time is required to carry out improvements meant to guarantee the Warri-Itakpe line’s long-term effectiveness and safety.
In order to ensure a better customer experience and compliance with international best practices, the NRC noted in its statement that the suspension was required to enable the company to deploy safety redundancies and system updates.
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Additional time is needed for additional procedural changes even after the primary technological concerns have been resolved.
The public was informed by NRC Managing Director Kayode Opeifa that while the technical team has resolved the main problems, the company still needs more time to finish the changes that will enable sustainable operations.
He emphasized how crucial these actions are to raising safety standards and operational effectiveness.
Dr. Opeifa said, “We are putting in place the necessary redundancies to support sustainable operations in accordance with best practices.”
There have been previous disruptions to the Warri-Itakpe Train Services. Operations were stopped in February 2025 because of a technical issue, but they restarted after a two-day pause. In July 2024, there was a derailment close to Ujevwu, Delta State, which resulted in a two-day maintenance halt; nevertheless, no injuries were reported.
The NRC is nonetheless dedicated to bringing the Warri-Itakpe service back as soon as possible, despite these obstacles, with a focus on increased dependability and efficiency.
For updates on the Warri-Itakpe service’s status, the NRC has advised travelers to be updated via official means. The company reaffirmed that its passengers’ safety and happiness continue to be its first priorities.
