FG delegation visits scene of train crash, assures Nigerians on rail safety

The Federal Government has reassured Nigerians of its commitment to strengthening railway safety following the recent derailment involving the Warri–Itakpe Train Service (WITS) near Agbor, Delta State, which claimed five lives and left several passengers injured. The assurance came as the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Transportation, Engr. Funsho Adebiyi, led a high-level […]

The Federal Government has reassured Nigerians of its commitment to strengthening railway safety following the recent derailment involving the Warri–Itakpe Train Service (WITS) near Agbor, Delta State, which claimed five lives and left several passengers injured.

The assurance came as the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Transportation, Engr. Funsho Adebiyi, led a high-level delegation to the accident scene and medical facilities treating victims of the incident.

The delegation undertook an on-the-spot assessment of the affected section of the rail corridor and received briefings from officials of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), emergency responders, security agencies and other stakeholders involved in rescue and recovery operations.

As part of the visit, the team also visited injured passengers receiving treatment at Owa Oyibu Hospital, Central Hospital Owa-Alero, General Hospital Agbor and the Railway Clinic in Railway Village.

Speaking during the visit, Adebiyi conveyed the Federal Government’s condolences to families who lost loved ones in the tragedy and expressed sympathy to those recovering from injuries.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the deceased and the injured passengers. This is a painful loss, and the Federal Government shares in their grief,” he said.

The Permanent Secretary assured Nigerians that every effort would be made to establish the cause of the accident and implement measures to prevent a recurrence.

According to him, ongoing investigations and technical assessments are expected to identify the factors responsible for the derailment and guide improvements in operational and safety procedures across the railway network.

He stressed that passenger safety remains a top priority of the Federal Government and pledged continued investment in measures aimed at improving the reliability and resilience of rail transportation.

Adebiyi also disclosed that work was already underway to restore services on the affected corridor, while ensuring that all recovery efforts adhere strictly to established safety standards.

“We recognise the importance of this rail service to the travelling public and the economy. While restoration efforts are ongoing, our focus remains on ensuring that the root causes of the incident are identified and adequately addressed,” he said.

 

The Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, Dr. Kayode Opeifa, who accompanied the delegation, reiterated the Corporation’s commitment to supporting victims and their families, while cooperating fully with investigators.

 

He said the NRC would continue to provide necessary assistance to those affected and remain transparent throughout the investigation process.

 

The visit also afforded government officials the opportunity to interact with medical personnel and assess the condition of injured passengers undergoing treatment.

 

The Federal Government reaffirmed its determination to learn from the incident and strengthen safety measures across the rail sector, assuring Nigerians that recommendations arising from the ongoing investigation would be carefully implemented to enhance the safety, reliability and efficiency of railway operations nationwide.