Table of Contents
The Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Kayode Opeifa, has attributed the derailment of the Warri–Itakpe train on Sunday to vandalism along the railway tracks.
Opeifa shared this information on Monday during an interview on ‘The Morning Brief’, a program aired on Channels Television.
He noted that the accident occurred despite recent maintenance efforts and security measures implemented along the corridor.
The NRC director also revealed that this section of the line had been temporarily shut down two months prior to address safety and security issues, during which extensive repairs were completed.
“Two months ago, we halted operations on the line to prioritize safety and security. We reopened after repairing almost every kilometer of the track, replacing clips, landrolls, and bolts in various locations,” he explained.
“However, we discovered that this track experiences regular vandalism, which is not unique to this area but occurs in many other regions as well, and it is our responsibility to secure them.”
His remarks came in response to the Warri-Itakpe train derailment that took place in the Agbor area of Delta State, just four days after the announcement of resumed train services.
He stated that the derailment was caused by the removal of four fish plates and flat iron pieces that are used to connect the rail tracks.
“At the site that night, we found that four fish plates had been removed, which likely caused the incident,” he said.
According to him, the train had successfully traversed the same route earlier that day from Onyewu to Itakpe via Agbor, suggesting that the removed components were likely tampered with after that trip.
“There is a guard train at the back of every train in this area that monitors activities behind it. We continue to have personnel working daily on these tracks,” he added.
Frequently Asked Questions
What caused the Warri-Itakpe train derailment?
The derailment was caused by the removal of four fish plates and flat iron pieces that are used to connect the rail tracks.
What measures were taken before the derailment?
The line was shut down two months prior to the incident for safety and security reasons, during which extensive repairs were conducted.
How does NRC monitor the tracks?
NRC employs a guard train at the back of every train in the area to monitor activities and ensure safety.
