Nigerian Railway Corporation Probes Ticket Racketeering on Abuja-Kaduna Train Service
Abuja, Nigeria – In a move to address concerns of ticket racketeering, the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has announced plans to investigate allegations of fraudulent activities involving some officials on the Abuja-Kaduna train service. The probe follows reports of difficulties in obtaining tickets online, leading to the exploitation of passengers by some NRC staff.
According to Yakub Mahmood, the Deputy Director of Public Relations, the NRC has set up a team, led by the Deputy Director of ICT, to investigate the allegations. The team is tasked with identifying the root cause of the issue and recommending measures to prevent future occurrences.
In a statement released on Saturday, the NRC also announced that Managing Director Freeborn Okhiria has appointed Mohammed Modibo Ibrahim as the new Manager of the Abuja-Kaduna Train Service (AKTS). The decision was made to address the concerns of passengers and restore confidence in the service.
Additionally, Okhiria has instructed the Director of Operations to increase the frequency of train services on the route within the next two weeks. The NRC hopes that this measure will help alleviate the pressure on passengers and reduce the instances of ticket racketeering.
The NRC introduced an e-ticketing platform for online ticket purchases in January 2021, followed by similar platforms for Lagos-Ibadan and Itakpe-Warri train services in November 2023. The electronic ticketing system was designed to reduce physical contact between passengers and staff, making it easier for passengers to purchase tickets while minimizing the risk of fraud.
The NRC is urging passengers to bear with them as they work to resolve the issue. The corporation is committed to providing a safe and reliable service to its customers and is taking steps to address any concerns or difficulties that may arise.
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