The Nigerian Railway Corporation has provided clarity on the recent disruption of the Port Harcourt–Aba train service, attributing the incident to a technical fault.
In a statement released on Monday, NRC Managing Director, Dr. Kayode Opeifa, confirmed that the corporation plans to refund passengers affected by the disruption.
Earlier, the NRC had expressed regret over the inconvenience suffered by commuters, following viral videos on social media showing stranded passengers forced to walk long distances and cross a stream to find alternative transport.
The statement revealed that the train experienced a breakdown at Imo River on Wednesday, September 3, 2025, while traveling from Aba to Port Harcourt.
“Despite the best efforts of our engineers to revive the locomotive, the fault persisted. Consequently, an alternative engine, Loco 2306, was quickly deployed to rescue the stranded train. While some passengers chose to find alternative routes to their destinations, others were conveyed back safely,” the NRC explained.
The affected train has now been returned to Port Harcourt for comprehensive repairs to restore it to full service.
The NRC urged all passengers impacted by the incident to visit stations in Port Harcourt or Aba with proof of payment to claim either a refund or a replacement journey.
“The present NRC management remains committed to transforming the corporation under the Renewed Hope Agenda, ensuring safer, more reliable, and customer-friendly rail services across the country,” the statement added.
Normal operations on the Port Harcourt–Aba route are expected to resume on Tuesday, September 9, 2025.