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By Fidelis Ugbomeh
Close watchers of events in Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) have continued to express mixed emotions over a viral video in social media posted by a passenger alleging ticket racketeering involving the Corporatinon’s officials along Abuja-Kaduna railway corridor.
While some stakeholders suggested that the corporation should through an act of the National assembly ceed its operations/maintenance role and focus on regulatory function so as to monitor compliance.
The corporation rose in defence, saying it is not directly involved in sales and buying of tickets to prospective passengers wishing to board its three standard gauge passenger trains as ticketing of passengers had since been concessioned to private firms.
Caution of passengers
Management of Nigerian Railway Corporation had warned passengers not to procure tickets for boarding its three standard gauge passenger trains: Abuja-Kaduna, Lagos-Ibadan and Warri-Itakpe, from third parties outside the portals of its concessionaires.
In a statement issued in reaction to the viral video on social media posted by Faizah Raji who purchased a ticket twice the original price from an agent, the management said Abuja-Kaduna train service e-ticketing was concessioned to Secure ID/TPS while Lagos-Ibadan was concessioned to global software digital solutions and Warri-Itakpe train service to Fame tickets solutions.
The corporation according to the statement had hitherto mandated its concessionaires to improve on ease to access the electronic portals to conform with ticketing protocols.
According to the statement, Nigerian railway corporation has nothing to do with e-ticketing services as ticketing has been concessioned under public, private partnership after obtaining approval from infrastructure, concession, regulatory commission and federal executive council before 2023.
The corporation also restated that it is not involved in sales and buying of tickets but to create access for passengers ease to obtain tickets and board the trains.
The statement signed by chief public relations officer of the corporation, Callistus Unyinmadu, revealed that any member of the public who patronised ticket agents contrary to the warning do so at his or her own risk as the corporation must not be held liable.
While admitting that as a result of more Nigerians opting for rail services demand has outstripped supply by over 10 folds, the corporation said it is not acceptable and an economic sabotage to purchase tickets from third parties and with other persons National identification number (NIN) or name.
Access control system
Nigerian railway corporation’s ticketing and verification system is integrated with National identity management commission data base.
According to the statement, the system at Idu, Kubwa in Abuja and Rigassa in Kaduna state has capacity to pull and display picture of the person whose National identity number was used in purchasing a ticket from National identity management commission’s data base.
The corporation noted that at this point, an individual that obtained third party ticket will be discovered and refused boarding adding that this capacity also requires a good access control system at the stations.
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According to the corporation, the Rigassa station having being a hurriedly adopted station does not have acceptable access control system thereby occasionally giving agents or scammers opportunity to overwhelm security operatives.
“To check this, the corporation in 2025 introduced second verification through personal identity card at boarding point”, the statement added.
Lamentation of victim
The victim, of ticket racketeering, Faizah Raji who paid twice the official price to board an Abuja-Kaduna train had accused management of railways of ticket racketeering.
She alleged that officials of the corporatinon deliberately created artificial scarcity of tickets only to resell through faceless agents at exorbitant rates.
Raji admitted that tickets had been sold out on the e-ticketing portal but that she was able to buy from an agent at twice the official price.
Monitoring e-ticketing concessionaires
Meanwhile, some close watchers of unfolding events in Nigerian railway sub-sector called for proper regulation of activities of the concessionaires,saying the corporation should not completely absolve itself from any involvement in buying and selling of tickets.
The managing director First Rit Nigeria Limited, Mr. Eric Umezurike said that the excuse given by the management that security agents are occasionally overwhelmed by agents or scammers at Rigassa station because it does not have acceptable access control system does not hold water.
He advised that there should be a close monitoring of activities of all the railway officials and security agents especially at the entry points adding that an agent cannot procure ticket for a third party without an insider connection.
Umezuriked stated categorically that the concessionaires and officials of the corporation should be constantly monitored due to the possibility of forming a syndicate to deny the corporation opportunity of earning revenue while enriching themselves.
Mr. Tunde Ayodele, a regular passenger of Abuja-Kaduna train service averred that the management of the corporation is saddled with too many responsibilities ranging from operation, to maintenance and regulation.
He therefore advised Federal government to initiate an act of National assembly empowering the corporation to regulate activities of operators while ceeding operation/ track maintenance,ticketing/marketing of passenger/freight trains to states/private and private sector respectively
Ayodele stated further that the Nigerian railway regulatory agency when established should also be empowered to to revoke licence of any concessionaire found wanting.
He pointed out that under the present dispensation, management of the corporation has right to sanction any concessionaire for any violation including sales of tickets through agents.
Mrs. Farida Johnson, a passenger faulted management of Nigerian railway for passing the bulk by blaming the complainant who was duped instead of addressing the problem by calling the concessionaire of Abuja-Kaduna e-ticketing system to order or apply sanctions accordingly.
She advised the management to either increase the frequency of Kaduna-Abuja passenger train service or increase the number of coaches so as to meet upsurge in demand for train service along the corridor.
