..Incident occurs weeks after service resumed from temporary suspension
By Anthony Oboh
Three passengers have been confirmed dead following the derailment of a train operating on the Warri–Itakpe Train Service (WITS), prompting an emergency response by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and renewed concerns over the safety of Nigeria’s rail infrastructure.
The incident occurred on Monday along the Agbor axis of Delta State, involving a passenger train travelling from Itakpe to Warri.
Confirming the accident, the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) said emergency response teams and relevant authorities were immediately mobilised to the scene to provide assistance to passengers and manage the situation.
In a statement signed by the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the NRC, Kayode Opeifa, the corporation said it was closely monitoring developments and would provide further details as investigations progress.
“The Nigerian Railway Corporation confirms that an incident involving the Warri–Itakpe Train Service occurred today. Emergency response teams and relevant authorities are currently at the scene attending to the situation and providing necessary assistance,” the statement said.
The corporation added that a comprehensive statement would be released after preliminary assessments of the incident are completed.
The latest derailment comes less than a month after the NRC temporarily suspended operations on the Warri–Itakpe corridor, citing operational exigencies and technical recommendations from its engineers.
At the time, the corporation explained that the suspension was necessary to conduct critical operational assessments aimed at enhancing safety, reliability and service delivery on the route.
The NRC had assured passengers and stakeholders that efforts were underway to address identified challenges and restore normal operations within the shortest possible time.
Monday’s accident has again drawn attention to recurring safety concerns on the nation’s rail network.
In November 2025, the NRC recorded a derailment on the same Warri–Itakpe corridor, attributing the incident to acts of vandalism. Two suspects were subsequently arrested in connection with the occurrence near Agbor, Delta State.
Another derailment was recorded in August 2025 when a passenger train travelling from Abuja to Kaduna left the tracks shortly after departing the Federal Capital Territory, triggering panic among passengers.
Following a series of rail accidents, the Senate in November 2025 resolved to establish an ad hoc committee to investigate the root causes of recurring derailments across the country.
The planned investigation is expected to assess the state of railway infrastructure, maintenance practices and the quality of imported materials used in rail projects.
Meanwhile, the National Emergency Management Agency has activated its emergency response mechanism in response to Monday’s incident.
NEMA disclosed that its Director-General, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, immediately deployed the agency’s Emergency Response Team (ERT) after receiving reports of the derailment.
According to the agency, Umar has also been in contact with NRC Managing Director Kayode Opeifa and assured the corporation of NEMA’s full support during the rescue and recovery operations.
In a statement, NEMA said its response team was working closely with the NRC, security agencies and other stakeholders to provide assistance to affected passengers and ensure their safety.
“The agency’s response team is collaborating with the NRC, security agencies and other relevant stakeholders to provide necessary assistance to passengers, ensure their safety and support ongoing operations,” the statement said.
Rescue efforts continued on Monday as officials worked to account for passengers, provide medical support to the injured and determine the circumstances that led to the derailment.
The latest tragedy is expected to intensify calls for urgent reforms and investments aimed at improving safety standards across Nigeria’s railway network.
