NRC suspends Warri-Itakpe train after multiple engine failures, breakdown

The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) on Thursday announced the suspension of its Warri-Itakpe train service, after it experienced multiple technical issues.

The standard gauge train was said to have broken down midway on Tuesday, creating some panic situation among passengers on board.
It said in a statement that the decision to suspend the train operation would allow its technical team “to conduct a full audit, resolve all identified issues, and restore safe and reliable service.”
The NRC statement signed by Henrietta Eregare of the NRC Public Relations Department, read in part, “The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) wishes to inform the general public and our valued passengers that a significant disruption occurred on the Warri-Itakpe rail line on Tuesday, April 9, 2025, due to multiple technical issues involving a train engine failure.
“Management has consequently suspended train services on the route for 72 hours.
“The disruption commenced at approximately 1:38pm and affected both the 8am departure from Warri and the 2pm train from Itakpe.
“Emergency recovery protocols were immediately activated but also suffered a setback due to engine failures.”
It recalled how the corporation swiftly arranged for the safe evacuation of all passengers through road transportation with adequate security presence.
“Passengers were guided off the affected train to waiting cars approximately 500 meters from the track.
It stated, “Some Passengers chose to arrange their own transportation before the arrival of official recovery vehicles—a decision NRC understands given the delay.”
The corporation also disclosed that adequate arrangements had been made for a full refund of the value of tickets to passengers involved in the disrupted trains.
Those interested in using their tickets for future trips can take advantage of the revalidation option, according to the NRC.
“Refund and revalidation process is available on our online ticketing platforms, via our customer service lines, and at all NRC stations,” the statement added.
It expressed regret for the inconvenience caused by the unexpected disruption.
It said, “The Nigerian Railway Corporation takes full responsibility and is actively working to restore normal operations as quickly as possible. We remain committed to the safety, reliability, and comfort of our passengers.”

The Dangote refinery has informed marketers and its customers of a downward review of its ex-gantry loading cost to ₦865 per litre.

The new price is N15 less than the facility’s previous price of N880 per litre sold Wednesday.

Our correspondent learnt that the refinery alerted its clients via a notification sent out on Thursday morning.

Our correspondent gathered that the Dangote refinery informed its customers in a notice sent out on Thursday morning.

Remember that marketers had exclusively informed that the 650,000-barrel Dangote refinery was expected to reduce its petrol loading costs by the end of this week, further adding to the decline in fuel prices.

Chinedu Ukadike, the National Publicity Secretary of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, reassured the public about the price drop while responding to the Federal Executive Council’s direction on the naira-for-crude arrangement.

Following an initial delay, the Federal Executive Council directed on Wednesday that the suspended Naira-for-Crude arrangement with local refiners be fully implemented.

It stated that the initiative with local refineries is not a temporary measure but a “key policy directive designed to support sustainable local refining”.

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The Ministry of Finance announced this in a statement published on its official X handle titled “Update on the Crude and Refined Product Sales in Naira Initiative”.

The statement was released following a meeting on Tuesday between the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, and representatives from Dangote Refinery, a major beneficiary of the agreement, to review progress and address ongoing implementation matters.

The committee stated that the policy is not a temporary measure but rather a long-term strategy to reduce Nigeria’s reliance on foreign currency for petroleum.

It further stated that the effort is not a one-time or limited intervention but rather a fundamental policy direction aimed at promoting sustainable local refining and bolstering energy security.

The statement read, “The Technical Sub-Committee on the Crude and Refined Product Sales in Naira initiative convened an update meeting on Tuesday to review progress and address ongoing implementation matters.

“The stakeholders reaffirmed the government’s continued commitment to the full implementation of this strategic initiative, as directed by the Federal Executive Council.

“Thus, the Crude and Refined Product Sales in Naira initiative is not a temporary or time-bound intervention but a key policy directive designed to support sustainable local refining, bolster energy security, and reduce reliance on foreign exchange in the domestic petroleum market.”

Naira down to N1,620 in parallel market

The naira yesterday depreciated to N1,620 per dollar in the parallel market from N1,575 per dollar on Tuesday.
But the Naira appreciated to N1,611.55 per dollar in the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM). Data published by FMDQ, showed that the indicative exchange rate for the naira fell to N1,611.55 per dollar from N1,612.24 per dollar on Tuesday, indicating 69 kobo appreciation for the naira.

Consequently, the margin between the parallel market and NFEM rate narrowed to N8.45 per dollar from N37.24 per dollar on Tuesday. Currency traders attributed the depreciation of the naira to increased demand and low supply factors.

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Mr. Danjuma Sanni, a currency trader, told Vanguard that there had been a continuous increase in demand for the dollar, which intensified yesterday. “There has been increasing demand for the dollar with low supply. Though people still sell their dollars, the demand is still increasing more than the supply.
“Today, I bought a dollar at N1,600 and sold it for N1,620.

“This morning a dollar was sold at N1,650 and closed between N1,610 and N1,620.” The trader envisages the exchange rate to trade below N1,600 per dollar at the end of the week.”

Naira down to N1,620 in parallel market