The Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) has assured passengers that train operations on the Warri–Itakpe corridor remain safe and fully operational, dismissing recent social media reports warning the public to avoid rail travel due to alleged safety breaches.
In a statement released on Monday, June 9, in Lagos, the Acting Deputy Director of Public Relations at the NRC, Mr. Callistus Unyimadu, addressed the concerns raised by a viral video showing removed rail clips, describing the claims as “misleading and unfounded.”
“The attention of the NRC has been drawn to a widely circulated social media message warning the public to avoid train travel, particularly along Warri–Itakpe rail corridor,” Unyimadu stated.
“We wish to categorically state that this information is misleading. Train services on the Warri-Itakpe corridor and all other NRC corridors remain safe, reliable and fully operational.”
He confirmed that the issue shown in the video was discovered during a routine inspection and immediately corrected by the corporation’s maintenance team, stressing that at no point was passenger safety compromised.
Unyimadu highlighted the NRC’s commitment to stringent safety standards, noting that its tracks and rolling stock are under constant surveillance with trained personnel available to respond to any issues in real time.
The NRC further advised passengers to rely solely on its official communication channels for updates and cautioned against spreading unverified information that could undermine public confidence in rail transport.
“Attempts to discourage train travel using false information sabotage national efforts to provide safer and more efficient transport alternatives,” Unyimadu added.
The Warri–Itakpe Railway is a 326-kilometre standard-gauge line connecting Delta and Kogi states. While operations have generally remained stable, the corridor has experienced occasional technical disruptions in recent months.
In April 2025, operations were briefly suspended for 72 hours following multiple engine failures. Prior to that, technical faults led to a service halt in February, and in July 2024, a derailment near Ujevwu prompted a two-day suspension.
Despite these incidents, the NRC maintains that the corridor is safe for public use and continues to implement safety upgrades and routine maintenance across all its routes.
