The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has announced an investigation into reports of ticket racketeering involving some of its officials on the Abuja-Kaduna train service. This move follows public outcry over the challenges passengers face while trying to book tickets online, leading to exploitation by certain railway staff.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Saturday, the NRC’s Deputy Director of Public Relations, Yakub Mahmood, acknowledged that some officials have taken advantage of the passengers' difficulties with the e-ticketing platform to profit through illegal ticket sales. Mahmood disclosed that a special investigation team, led by the Deputy Director of ICT, has been established to probe the matter and ensure the culprits are held accountable.
Furthermore, the Managing Director of the NRC, Mr. Freeborn Okhiria, has directed Mr. Mohammed Modibo Ibrahim to assume immediate responsibility as Manager of the Abuja-Kaduna Train Service (AKTS), a role crucial to resolving the current challenges. To ease the burden on passengers, Okhiria also instructed the Director of Operations to increase the frequency of train services on the route within the next two weeks.
Mahmood urged passengers to remain patient, assuring them that the issue will be swiftly addressed. He reiterated the NRC's commitment to enhancing service delivery and curbing fraudulent activities within the Corporation.
It’s worth recalling that in January 2021, the Federal Government launched a N900 million e-ticketing platform for the Abuja-Kaduna train service to streamline operations. By November 2023, the NRC extended the platform to other routes, including Lagos-Ibadan and Itakpe-Warri, in a bid to minimize physical interactions between passengers and railway staff. However, recent developments highlight that much work remains to be done to ensure the system operates as intended.
The NRC’s swift response signals its determination to restore public trust and improve service efficiency for the thousands of passengers who rely on the Abuja-Kaduna train service daily.
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