Warri-Itakpe Train Service Safe For Operation, Resumes Today—FG

The Minister of Transportation, Senator Ahmed Alkali has announced the operational resumption of the Warri-Itakpe train service which was suspended over a derailed incident.

THE WHISTLER had earlier reported that the suspension was made after the train from Kogi to Delta derailed at the Major Gen. David Ejor rail station.

Addressing the incident on Sunday, Alkali represented by the acting Permanent Secretary in the ministry Pius Oteh, said their first observation was to see that the track had been fixed.

He said, “Our first observation is to see that normalcy has been restored. We are here at the directive of the Minister who is concerned when the accident happened on Thursday night.

“The Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) is the operator of all our rail services and we are aware that they have already begun to take preliminary steps to ascertain what happened and ensure everybody was safe and conduct further investigation.

“As supervisory ministry of NRC also finds the need to have a first assessment of the situation.

“You know that the Warri-Itakpe railway is a critical component of our National railway infrastructure. We are happy to be here and express the Minister’s concern.

“We are happy that the incident did not lead to any casualty, it is an operational issue and we are happy to see that NRC has used their internal resource to fix the track.

“By tomorrow Monday, the train will resume its operation. We thanked God that the accident did not claim any life.”

While commending the NRC for efficient and effective service over the years, the minister disclosed that running two sessions daily is on course.

Also speaking during the inspection, the Managing Director NRC, Mr Freeborn Okhiria, appealed to the people of Delta State to own railway facilities in a bid to keeping them safe.