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NRC DEBUNKS INVOLVEMENT IN VIRAL TICKET RACKETEERING VIDEO ON AKTS

By Afolabi Oyekunle.




The Nigerian Railway Corporation has debunked  a report on social media, accusing it of ticket racketeering on the flagship train corridor - Abuja - Kaduna Train Service (AKTS).


According to a statement by Callistus Unyimadu Chief Public Relations Officer Nigerian Railway Corporation, An Instagram blogger Faizah Raji, using the handle @wearegst had on her story titled: "The NRC is stealing its own tickets to resell, accused the corporation (which she erroneously addressed as Nigeria Railway Commission) of deliberately creating artificial scarcity of its tickets only to resell same through some faceless agents at exorbitant prices on the AKTS.

 The corporation stated that though the blogger admitted in her story that the NRC Management had warned all prospective passengers to buy tickets only from approved portal, she had approached “an agent,” after all her efforts to buy ticket had proved abortive.

According to her, though the tickets had been sold out on the e-ticketing portal, she was able to buy the ticket from “an agent” at twice the official price.

The Corporation’s Management said while Raji’s experience may be correct, her video lacked an understanding of the issues and she libelously called out NRC and its management.

The corporation said contrary to Faizah Raji’s erroneous assumption, any member of the public who patronized ‘ticket agents’ contrary to NRC’s warnings do at own risk as NRC must not be held liable for any loss. 

The corporation added that NRC has nothing to do with the e-ticketing services as ticketing, is a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement; with SecureID/TPS handling the AKTS, Global Software Digital Solutions (GSDS) handling Lagos-Ibadan Train Service (LITS), while Fane Warri-Itakpe Ticketing Solutions Ltd., handling Warri-Itakpe Train Service (WITS). The three concessionaires which services ticketing demands on the standard gauges, the corporation’s management added, were approved by the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), and the Federal Executive Council (FEC) before 2023.

     NRC MD. Dr. Kayode Opeifa

Wondering where the uniformed blogger got her inferences from, the Management further revealed that following the 2022 train bombing, the Nigerian government had introduced the National Identification Number (NIN) Card as a condition to buying ticket to reduce racketeering but scammers had devised a way of acquiring multiple NINs to get the tickets and resell to unsuspecting passengers who wished to board the train.
To deal with the situation, the NRC in 2025 introduced double verification, similar to what obtains at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport 2, Lagos. While your NIN is checked to conform with the NIN used in purchasing the ticket, your personal ID card is required to board the train.

“The NRC ticketing and verification system is integrated live with the NIMC database. Our system at Idu, Kubwa in Abuja, and at Rigasa in Kaduna, has the capacity to pull and display the picture of the person whose NIN number was used in purchasing the ticket from NIMC database. That is the first point of the two way verification. At this point the individual with a third party ticket will definitely be discovered and refused boarding. This capacity also require a good Access Control System at the station. 

The Rigasa/Kaduna station being an hurriedly adopted station do not have an acceptable Access Control System thereby occasionally allowing agents of scammers to overwhelm security operatives. To check this, in 2025 NRC introduced the MM2 airport system requiring second verification at boarding with a personal ID card,” the statement added.

While admitting that more as a result of more Nigerians opting for the rail services, demand had outstripped supply by over 10 folds causing a demand-supply disequilibrium, NRC reiterates that it is unacceptable and an economic sabotage to buy train ticket from third party and with someone else’s NIN or name. NRC added that the e-Ticketing companies had been mandated to improve on the ease to access the electronic portals to conform with the ticketing protocols. 

The corporation insisted that the NRC is not involved in buying or selling of tickets but to create access for passengers ease to obtaining the tickets and to oblige ticket holders, access to the trains. At the moment, the demand for train travel far exceeds the limited number of seats available on the train. 

The corporation wondered whether the blogger is reacting haven been prevented from using the train with an unacceptable ticket and identification details or pursuing another motive rather than reporting the facts.

The corporation has declared zero tolerance against ticket racketeering and staff of the corporation found culpable or colluding in the crime would be summarily dealt with.

NRC assure all our esteemed passengers and well-meaning Nigerians that the corporation shall continue to be ahead of criminals and economic saboteurs who are bent on destroying the system and tarnishing its good image.

“The corporation shall continue to ensure quality customer service at all times, across all our operation areas as we are determined to ensure that the train becomes a first choice alternative by discerning travellers across the country.”
"The corporation is determined to ensure that Nigerians enjoy quality train service that is safe, affordable, reliable and convenient, across all national train corridors."



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