Senator Ned Munir Nwoko, representing Delta North Senatorial District, has expressed sadness over the tragic derailment of the Warri–Itakpe Train Service (WITS) corridor at Agbor, Delta State, which claimed the lives of passengers and left several others injured.
Following a briefing from the Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Mr. Kayode Opeifa, on the circumstances surrounding the incident, Senator Nwoko immediately reached out to key authorities, including the Commissioner of Police, the Medical Director of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Asaba, and the Permanent Secretary of the Delta State Hospital Management Board (HMB), to ensure a swift and coordinated response.
The Senator commiserated with the families of those who lost their lives, describing the incident as deeply painful and avoidable, while also extending his sympathies to all victims affected by the accident. He assured that he would continue to monitor developments closely and support all efforts aimed at assisting victims and preventing a recurrence.
Senator Nwoko, however, raised serious concerns over what he described as systemic lapses in rail safety management, particularly with regard to track maintenance and monitoring. He noted that track integrity along the Warri–Itakpe corridor has not been treated with the level of continuous risk assessment required for such a critical transport route. According to him, the line runs through flood-prone and erosion-prone terrain, especially around Agbor and other parts of Delta State, where soil instability and waterlogging have long been known challenges.
He emphasized that addressing these risks requires more than periodic inspections, calling for the adoption of modern safety measures such as regular ultrasonic testing of rail tracks and the installation of track-side monitoring sensors capable of detecting structural weaknesses in real time. He stressed that such systems are standard in functional rail networks globally and must be urgently integrated into Nigeria’s rail infrastructure to prevent future tragedies.
The Senator further noted that the incident occurred barely weeks after the temporary suspension of operations on the same corridor for technical assessment, raising concerns about the adequacy and implementation of those safety checks. He urged the Nigerian Railway Corporation and relevant authorities to carry out a thorough and transparent investigation into the immediate and underlying causes of the derailment.
While commending the swift response of emergency services and security agencies, Senator Nwoko reaffirmed his commitment to the safety and welfare of his constituents and all Nigerians who rely on the nation’s rail system. He called for sustained investment in rail safety, stricter oversight, and a shift from reactive measures to proactive, technology-driven monitoring of rail infrastructure.
