The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has moved to dispel recent social media rumors concerning the safety of its train services, particularly along the Warri-Itakpe corridor.
The acting Deputy Director of Public Relations for the NRC Callistus Unyimadu, issued a statement on Monday, June 9, 2025, reassuring the public that the rail transport system is fully operational and safe.
“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. He clarified that the message, accompanied by a video depicting removed rail clips, falsely claimed that rail transport was unsafe and urged passengers to cancel their travel plans. “We wish to categorically state that this information is misleading and unfounded,” he asserted.
Unyimadu explained that the incident shown in the video, involving the temporary removal of some rail clips at a specific location on the corridor, was promptly detected during routine inspection by the NRC maintenance team and was immediately rectified. “All necessary safety and operational protocols were strictly followed to ensure that no threat was posed to passengers or the integrity of the train operations,” he added, as reported by NAN.
He further confirmed the route’s safety by stating, “Indeed, the Warri-Itakpe train (WITS) has successfully passed through the affected section without any incident, further confirming the safety of the route.”
The NRC official emphasized that the corporation remains committed to the highest standards of safety and security across all its operations. He highlighted that NRC tracks and rolling stock are under constant surveillance and maintenance, and personnel are fully equipped to address any issues in real-time.
“We, therefore, urge the public to disregard the viral message and continue to use our train services with full confidence. Any attempt to spread fear or discourage the use of rail transport undermines the progress being made in the sector and should be condemned,” Unyimadu appealed.
He concluded by reiterating that “Train services on the Warri-Itakpe corridor and all other NRC corridors remain safe, reliable, and fully operational.” The NRC encourages passengers to rely solely on verified NRC communication channels for official updates and travel advisories.
