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The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has denied allegations of ticket racketeering on the Abuja-Kaduna Train Service (AKTS), blaming ticket scarcity on rising passenger demand and the activities of unauthorised agents.

The Corporation’s reaction followed a viral social media video by Instagram blogger Faizah Raji, who accused the NRC of deliberately creating artificial ticket shortages to resell tickets through agents at exorbitant prices.

In a post titled “The NRC Is Stealing Its Own Tickets to Resell,” Raji alleged that although tickets were unavailable on the official e-ticketing portal, she was able to purchase one from an agent at twice the official price.

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In a statement issued yesterday, the NRC management described the allegations as misleading, arguing that the blogger’s experience did not establish that the Corporation was involved in ticket racketeering.

The Corporation noted that Raji had acknowledged in her post that prospective passengers were advised to purchase tickets exclusively through approved channels but proceeded to approach an agent after failing to secure a ticket online.

It warned that passengers who patronise unauthorised ticket agents do so at their own risk, stressing that the Corporation should not be held responsible for losses arising from such transactions.

The NRC also clarified that it does not directly operate the e-ticketing platforms, explaining that ticketing services across its standard-gauge railway corridors are managed through public-private partnership arrangements.

According to the Corporation, SecureID/TPS handles ticketing for the Abuja-Kaduna Train Service, Global Software Digital Solutions (GSDS) manages the Lagos-Ibadan Train Service, while Fane Warri-Itakpe Ticketing Solutions Ltd. oversees the Warri-Itakpe Train Service.

It added that the concessionaires were approved by the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) and the Federal Executive Council before 2023.

Explaining its efforts to curb ticket racketeering, the NRC said the Federal Government introduced the National Identification Number (NIN) requirement for ticket purchases following the 2022 train attack.

The measure was designed to discourage ticket touting, but the Corporation said fraudsters had devised ways to obtain multiple NINs to purchase tickets for resale to unsuspecting passengers.

To strengthen enforcement, the NRC introduced a two-stage identity verification system in 2025, similar to the procedure used at Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.

Under the arrangement, passengers’ NIN details are checked against the information used to purchase their tickets, while personal identification cards are also required before boarding.

The Corporation explained that its ticketing and verification system is integrated with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) database, enabling officials at Idu and Kubwa in Abuja, as well as Rigasa in Kaduna, to retrieve photographs associated with the NINs used for ticket purchases.

It, however, acknowledged that weaknesses in the access control system at Rigasa station had occasionally allowed individuals linked to ticket scams to overwhelm security personnel.

The NRC said the additional identity checks were introduced to address such loopholes and prevent passengers from travelling with tickets purchased using another person’s identity.

The Corporation further disclosed that demand for rail services had increased significantly, with passenger demand reportedly exceeding available capacity by more than tenfold.

It described the resulting imbalance between demand and supply as a major challenge, while maintaining that purchasing tickets through third parties or using another person’s NIN or name was unacceptable and amounted to economic sabotage.

To improve access to tickets, the NRC said it had directed the e-ticketing concessionaires to make their online platforms easier to access while maintaining the prescribed ticketing and verification procedures.

Reiterating its position, the Corporation stressed that its role was to facilitate passengers’ access to train services rather than engage in the buying and selling of tickets.

It also questioned the circumstances surrounding the blogger’s allegations, suggesting that her claims might have arisen from an unsuccessful attempt to travel with a ticket or identification details that did not meet the required standards.

The NRC, however, declared zero tolerance for ticket racketeering, warning that any staff member found participating in or colluding with the practice would face disciplinary action.

The Corporation assured passengers and Nigerians that it would continue to strengthen measures against fraudsters and other individuals seeking to undermine the railway system.

It reaffirmed its commitment to improving customer service and providing safe, affordable, reliable and convenient train services across the country’s railway corridors.

The Traffic NG
NRC
Afusat Adebayo
The Traffic NG

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