The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has assured the public that rail transport services along the Warri–Itakpe (WITS) corridor remain safe, reliable, and fully operational, despite recent misinformation circulating on social media.
In a statement issued on Monday in Lagos, Mr Callistus Unyimadu, Acting Deputy Director of Public Relations at the NRC, dismissed viral claims suggesting that the route was unsafe due to tampered infrastructure.
“The attention of the NRC has been drawn to a widely circulated social media message warning the public to avoid train travel, particularly along the Warri–Itakpe rail corridor,” Unyimadu said.
“The message, accompanied by a short video showing removed rail clips, falsely claims that rail transport is currently unsafe and urges passengers to cancel travel plans. We wish to categorically state that this information is misleading and unfounded.”
According to Unyimadu, the incident depicted in the video concerning the temporary removal of some rail clips at a specific location was swiftly addressed by the NRC maintenance team following its discovery during a routine inspection.
“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 explained.
“Indeed, the Warri–Itakpe train (WITS) has successfully passed through the affected section without any incident, further confirming the safety of the route.”
He emphasised the NRC’s unwavering commitment to upholding the highest standards of safety and security across its operations. He added that the corporation’s tracks and rolling stock are constantly monitored and maintained, with trained personnel ready to respond to 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,” Unyimadu said.
“Any attempt to spread fear or discourage the use of rail transport undermines the progress being made in the sector and should be condemned.”
He encouraged passengers to rely solely on verified NRC communication channels for official updates and travel advisories.
