NRC MD addresses Abuja–Kaduna ticket racketeering controversy, warns passengers against using agents – Daily Trust

The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has reaffirmed its dedication to transparency, equity and accountability within the sale of prepare tickets, significantly on the Abuja–Kaduna Train Service (AKTS), whereas intensifying measures to remove ticket racketeering and different fraudulent practices able to undermining public confidence in railway transportation.

The Corporation’s renewed assurance adopted allegations circulating on social media regarding ticket availability, passenger verification procedures and the actions of unauthorised ticket agents on the Abuja–Kaduna hall.

The NRC had earlier issued a press assertion debunking allegations of its involvement in ticket racketeering, a improvement that attracted widespread media consideration and generated public dialogue on the operations of its digital ticketing system.

Speaking on Channels Television’s well-liked morning programme, Sunrise Daily, shortly after the press assertion, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the NRC, Dr. Kayode Opeifa, offered additional clarification on the controversy, describing a number of claims contained within the viral video as inaccurate and primarily based on a misunderstanding of how the Corporation’s digital ticketing system operates.

According to him, the basic problem confronting passengers on the Abuja–Kaduna hall is the overwhelming demand for prepare providers, which considerably exceeds the variety of out there seats.

He defined that when 5,000 intending passengers compete for simply 665 out there seats, solely the primary 665 profitable candidates can safe tickets, whereas the remaining passengers are routinely knowledgeable that seats are not out there.

“You can’t create what you don’t have,” Opeifa said, emphasising that the exhaustion of accessible seats shouldn’t be misconstrued as proof of deliberate ticket hoarding or manipulation.

The Managing Director maintained that the NRC neither creates nor encourages ticket racketeering however has constantly launched measures to fight the observe.

“NRC doesn’t create racketeering. We fight it and have made huge progress on that,” he declared.

Opeifa disclosed that the assorted measures launched beneath his management have considerably diminished ticket racketeering, inserting its present degree at lower than one per cent, in accordance with the Corporation’s evaluation.

He attributed the event to enhancements in passenger identification, digital verification and safety preparations designed to forestall fraudulent ticket purchases and unauthorised transfers.

The NRC boss defined that the Corporation had progressively strengthened its ticketing safety structure, transferring from the introduction of National Identification Number (NIN) necessities to One-Time Password (OTP) authentication and subsequently to double verification of passenger identities.

He famous that these measures have continued to yield constructive ends in addressing the actions of people making an attempt to bypass the accepted reserving course of.

Opeifa additional defined that digital ticketing providers are managed by concessionaires beneath Public-Private Partnership preparations, whereas the NRC offers passengers with entry to the accepted ticketing platforms.

According to him, the Corporation’s duty consists of placing acceptable methods in place to guard passengers, safeguard the integrity of ticket transactions and guarantee compliance with established procedures.

The Managing Director additionally expressed concern that some passengers proceed to patronise unauthorised ticket agents regardless of repeated warnings from the NRC.

Referring to the viral video, he noticed that the complainant admitted that after failing to safe a ticket by means of the accepted platform, she was suggested to method an agent.

He harassed that such actions immediately contradict the Corporation’s longstanding recommendation to passengers to buy tickets solely by means of authorised channels.

‘We remain committed to eliminating racketeering’

Opeifa reiterated that the NRC wouldn’t relent in its efforts to remove ticket racketeering, noting that people benefiting from fraudulent practices would naturally resist measures designed to dam their actions.

He maintained that the Corporation would stay resolute in its battle against corruption and different types of financial sabotage throughout the railway system.

On the challenges related to passenger verification and entry management at Rigasa Train Station in Kaduna, the Managing Director acknowledged present deficiencies within the station’s entry management system.

He defined that the malfunctioning entry management association has contributed to a few of the difficulties skilled in imposing passenger identification and stopping unauthorised boarding.

According to him, the concessionaire accountable for the system is already working in direction of rectifying the state of affairs.

Opeifa additional defined that Rigasa Station was not initially designed to function Kaduna’s principal railway station, an element that has contributed to a few of its current operational challenges.

He nonetheless assured passengers that the Corporation would proceed strengthening its safety and boarding procedures to make sure that solely correctly recognized and legitimately ticketed passengers achieve entry to trains.

…Concessionaire clarifies reserving system

Meanwhile, Transport Payment Solutions Limited (TPS), the Public-Private Partnership concessionaire accountable for digital ticketing on the Abuja–Kaduna hall, has additional clarified the operations of the reserving platform.

The firm defined that ticket allocation is solely automated and operates strictly on a first-come, first-served foundation, with out preferential allocation to people or teams.

It maintained that the platform doesn’t intentionally reserve seats for unauthorised agents or allow the allocation of a single seat to a number of passengers.

The concessionaire additionally disclosed that the digital ticketing platform has undergone important optimisation since September 2026, leading to improved system efficiency, quicker processing of passenger requests and better stability in periods of excessive reserving demand.

These enhancements, in accordance with the corporate, have strengthened the effectivity of the reserving course of and enhanced the general passenger expertise.

On the problem of NIN verification, the concessionaire clarified that the passenger profile re-verification train is a one-time requirement somewhat than a recurring train performed each two or six months, as instructed in some complaints.

The verification course of is meant to strengthen passenger identification, discourage fraudulent ticket transfers and be sure that people travelling correspond with the identification particulars submitted throughout ticket purchases.

Under the present association, every out there seat is allotted to 1 passenger, whose identification particulars are captured electronically.

The NRC defined that these procedures are significantly vital given the safety challenges beforehand skilled on the Abuja–Kaduna hall and the necessity to preserve strict passenger identification requirements.

The Corporation additional clarified that though the welfare of minors travelling with their mother and father or guardians stays a precedence, the present ticketing association doesn’t routinely present particular seat reservations outdoors the out there capability.

It consequently suggested mother and father and guardians travelling with kids to make their bookings promptly and guarantee compliance with relevant passenger identification necessities.

The NRC acknowledged that the rising demand for prepare providers displays rising public acceptance of railway transportation as a secure, reasonably priced and handy technique of intercity journey.

However, the Corporation famous that the appreciable hole between passenger demand and out there seating capability stays a serious operational problem requiring extra rolling inventory.

It subsequently reiterated the necessity for elevated funding in passenger coaches and different important railway infrastructure to accommodate the rising variety of Nigerians in search of to journey by prepare.

On efforts to strengthen safety and remove unauthorised boarding, the Corporation disclosed that exact consideration is being directed in direction of bettering entry management at Rigasa Station and different crucial boarding factors alongside the Abuja–Kaduna hall.

It defined that enhanced passenger verification, improved entry management services and nearer collaboration with safety companies would assist establish people making an attempt to board trains using tickets bought beneath one other individual’s identification.

The NRC warned that passengers discovered presenting fraudulent or improperly transferred tickets threat being denied boarding, whereas people concerned in prison actions can be referred to acceptable safety companies for investigation and potential prosecution.

Management additionally reiterated its zero-tolerance place against workers involvement in ticket racketeering, stressing that any worker discovered facilitating fraudulent ticket transactions would face acceptable disciplinary measures and, the place relevant, prosecution.

The Corporation urged intending passengers to keep away from buying tickets from unauthorised agents, emphasising that such transactions expose them to monetary losses, identity-related problems and potential rejection throughout boarding.

It appealed to members of the general public to report suspected racketeering actions by means of acceptable official channels somewhat than patronising people providing tickets outdoors the accepted digital reserving platform.

The NRC additional reassured passengers that ongoing enhancements in digital ticketing, passenger verification and station entry management type a part of broader reforms being carried out beneath the management of Dr. Kayode Opeifa to reposition the Corporation for better operational effectivity, accountability and buyer satisfaction.

While acknowledging the frustrations skilled by passengers who’re unable to safe tickets regardless of repeated makes an attempt, Management maintained that technological enhancements alone can’t remove the basic problem of insufficient seating capability.

The Corporation subsequently appealed for continued public understanding and cooperation whereas reiterating its dedication to working with related stakeholders in direction of rising passenger capability and bettering service supply throughout the railway community.

The NRC maintained that the unavailability of tickets ensuing from overwhelming passenger demand shouldn’t be mistaken for ticket racketeering, stressing that the Corporation stays decided to remove fraudulent practices, defend real passengers and maintain public confidence in railway transportation.