Three passengers have been confirmed dead following the derailment of the Warri–Itakpe Train Service (WITS) on Monday.

The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) confirmed the incident in a statement issued by its Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Kayode Opeifa.

According to the NRC, emergency response teams and relevant authorities were immediately deployed to the scene to provide assistance to affected passengers and manage the situation.

“The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) confirms that an incident involving the Warri–Itakpe Train Service (WITS) occurred today. Emergency response teams and relevant authorities are currently at the scene attending to the situation and providing necessary assistance,” the statement said.

The corporation added that it is closely monitoring developments and would provide further details as more information becomes available.

The latest accident comes less than a month after the NRC temporarily suspended operations on the Warri–Itakpe corridor to carry out critical safety and operational assessments. The agency had said the move was necessary to ensure improved safety, reliability, and service delivery on the route.

The Warri–Itakpe rail line has witnessed previous derailment incidents. In November 2025, a train on the same route derailed in Agbor, Delta State, an incident the NRC attributed to vandalism. Two suspects were later arrested in connection with the case.

Similarly, in August 2025, a passenger train travelling from Abuja to Kaduna derailed shortly after departing the nation’s capital, causing panic among passengers.

Following a series of derailments across the country’s rail network, the Senate in November 2025 resolved to establish an ad hoc committee to investigate the recurring incidents, assess the state of rail infrastructure, and examine the quality of materials used in the sector.

Investigations into Monday’s derailment are ongoing.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Monday officially swore in Mr. Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe as the Minister of Power and Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye as the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The brief ceremony was attended by the ministers’ spouses, senior government officials, and other dignitaries.

The appointments followed the resignation of former Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, and former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, who stepped down to pursue their respective political ambitions. President Tinubu subsequently nominated Tegbe and Enikanolaiye for the positions, and both nominees were confirmed by the Senate on May 6, 2026.

Tegbe Brings Over Three Decades of Reform Experience

Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe, an indigene of Ibadan in Oyo State, is widely recognised for his expertise in fiscal management, economic reforms, institutional transformation, and stakeholder engagement.

With more than 35 years of experience spanning both the public and private sectors, Tegbe holds a First Class Degree in Civil Engineering from Obafemi Awolowo University. He also earned a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Switzerland and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Birmingham.

Before his appointment, Tegbe served as Senior Partner and Head of Advisory Services at KPMG Africa, where he spearheaded several transformational projects, including the design and implementation of major presidential reform programmes and strategic initiatives for state governments.

His professional portfolio includes engagements with key organisations such as the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading (NBET), Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Nigeria Revenue Service, Shell, Huawei, General Electric, MTN, and Odu’a Group.

He has also played significant roles in fiscal policy reforms and restructuring efforts across various levels of government.

Veteran Diplomat Takes Charge at Foreign Affairs

Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, a native of Igbagun in Kogi State, brings decades of diplomatic and public service experience to his new role.

He graduated with a First Class Degree in Political Science from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where he emerged as the best graduating student in his faculty and received the Dean’s Prize. He later obtained a Master’s Degree in International Law and Diplomacy with Distinction from the University of Lagos.

Enikanolaiye joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in August 1982 and rose through the ranks to become Director before his appointment as Permanent Secretary of the ministry in 2016. He retired from the civil service on August 4, 2017, after 35 years of distinguished service.

During his diplomatic career, he served in several Nigerian missions abroad, including Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Belgrade, Serbia; Ottawa, Canada; London, United Kingdom; and New Delhi, India, where he served as Nigeria’s Head of Mission.

He is a recipient of numerous honours, including the Presidential Civil Service Merit Award, the Presidential Distinguished Public Service Career Award, and recognition as a Distinguished Fellow of the National Defence College.

Prior to his appointment as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Enikanolaiye served as Senior Special Assistant to President Tinubu on Foreign Affairs and International Relations in the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President.

The swearing-in ceremony marks a new phase in the administration’s efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s power sector and advance its foreign policy objectives through experienced leadership.

Residents of Emure Ekiti have been urged to collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and remain committed to the re-election bid of Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji ahead of the forthcoming governorship election.

The call was made by Erelu Tosin Aluko during a strategic grassroots engagement aimed at strengthening support for the governor and increasing voter participation across the community.

Speaking during the visit, Aluko said the growing support being enjoyed by Governor Oyebanji across various communities was a reflection of the administration’s impactful projects and people-oriented policies.

She highlighted the government’s interventions in key sectors, including healthcare, education, road infrastructure, youth empowerment, agriculture, and social investment programmes, noting that these initiatives have continued to improve the welfare of residents across the state.

She also charged party members and supporters to intensify door-to-door mobilization efforts, engage eligible voters, and create awareness on the importance of PVC collection ahead of the election.

According to her, the forthcoming poll offers the people of Ekiti another opportunity to consolidate on the achievements recorded under the Oyebanji administration and attract more developmental projects to their communities.

The engagement also provided an avenue for direct interaction with residents of Emure Ekiti, who expressed appreciation for the governor’s inclusive style of governance and reaffirmed their commitment to supporting his second-term aspiration.