Hopes for the early resumption of train operations on the Warri-Itakpe rail line have been further dashed as the service remains suspended more than a week after a breakdown stranded passengers in the forest.
The incident occurred on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, when a train carrying over 1,000 passengers from Warri, Delta State, broke down before reaching the Itakpe station in Kogi State. Stranded in a remote area, passengers endured several hours in the bush before resorting to self-help to find their ways out of the place.
Efforts to provide assistance from the Agbor Station proved futile as the rescue train also broke down, thereby compounding the situation and leaving many frustrated.
One week after the breakdown, the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) is yet to restore service. A senior staff member at the Itakpe station, who spoke to THE RADARR on condition of anonymity, revealed that there is no clear timeline for when the service will resume.
“All attempts to fix the faulty trains have so far failed. I cannot confirm when operations will return,” the official stated.
With the Easter season underway, travelers hoping to use the train service for the holidays are
left with no option than to resort to alternative modes of transportation, primarily by road.
