The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has temporarily suspended the Warri–Itakpe Train Service (WITS) over operational exigencies and technical advice from its engineers.
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This is according to a statement issued on Wednesday by the NRC’s Chief Public Relations Officer, Callistus Unyimadu.
The suspension is to allow for critical operational assessments aimed at ensuring safety, reliability and improved service delivery on the corridor.
What they are saying
The NRC said the temporary suspension became necessary following technical recommendations from its engineers and assured passengers that efforts were ongoing to restore operations as quickly as possible.
- “The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) says it has temporarily suspended the Warri–Itakpe Train Service (WITS) due to operational exigencies and technical advice from its engineers,” the NAN report read in part.
- Unyimadu said the corporation regretted the inconvenience the development may cause passengers and other stakeholders.
- He added that passengers and intending travellers would be informed before the end of the week on the date for the resumption of normal train operations.
The NRC further reaffirmed its commitment to providing safe, efficient and customer-friendly rail transport services across the country.
More insights
The Federal Government recently approved a temporary 50% fare reduction on all passenger train services operated by the NRC as part of efforts to ease transportation costs during the Eid-el-Kabir celebration period.
- The fare discount took effect from Tuesday, May 26, 2026 and will remain valid until Monday, June 1, 2026.
- Ticket fares across all NRC passenger train routes nationwide were reduced to half of the existing approved rates during the period.
- Passengers who purchased tickets before the announcement at full fare are entitled to a 50% rebate that can be reused for train travel on or before June 1, 2026.
Train schedules and timetables for other operational routes remain unchanged as previously announced by the corporation.
What you should know
The Warri-Itakpe rail service has witnessed multiple suspensions and resumptions in recent months due to technical and operational challenges affecting train operations.
- In July 2025, the NRC temporarily suspended operations on the corridor over unforeseen technical issues, affecting services on July 15 and July 16.
- Earlier in April 2025, operations on the standard gauge rail line were halted for 72 hours after multiple engine failures disrupted services on April 9.
- In February 2025, the corporation also suspended train operations over a technical fault before services resumed on February 22.
In July 2024, several coaches derailed near Ujevwu in Delta State, prompting a two-day suspension for maintenance despite no casualties being recorded.
Similar incidents, including locomotive failures, derailments, washouts and collisions, have also affected other railway corridors across the country in recent years.
