The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has clarified that Senator Ede Dafinone and former Delta State Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Patrick Ukah, were not among passengers on the train that derailed on the Warri–Itakpe rail corridor on Monday.
The clarification follows earlier reports that listed both individuals among the passengers on board the train during the incident near Agbor in Delta State, which resulted in the death of four persons.
In a statement issued on Tuesday in Lagos, NRC Managing Director, Dr. Kayode Opeifa, said the information was incorrect and did not reflect the actual passenger manifest of the train.
The error stemmed from an earlier statement by the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Transportation, Mr. Funsho Adebiyi, which had included Dafinone and Ukah among the 482 passengers reportedly on board at the time of the derailment.
While correcting the record, the NRC commended both Dafinone and Ukah for their swift involvement in emergency response efforts following the accident.
According to the corporation, the duo played a significant role in mobilising first responders and supporting rescue operations at the scene of the derailment.
“The NRC, however, commended both individuals for their significant role in mobilising first responders and emergency personnel who participated in the rescue operations following the incident,” the statement read.
The corporation expressed regret over the misinformation and any embarrassment it may have caused, noting its appreciation for the support shown during the emergency response.