NRC to Tackle Ticket Racketeering on Abuja-Kaduna Train Service

The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) is taking decisive action to address growing concerns over ticket racketeering on the Abuja-Kaduna Train Service (AKTS). In a statement released on Saturday, September 28, Yakub Mahmood, the NRC’s deputy director of public relations, acknowledged that some officials have exploited difficulties passengers face with the online booking platform.

Mahmood urged the public to remain patient, assuring travelers that the NRC is working diligently to resolve the issue. “Information has reached management regarding the challenges passengers encounter in securing tickets online, which has led to instances of racketeering,” he said.

In response to these allegations, the Nigerian Railway Corporation has formed a specialized team, led by the deputy director of ICT, to investigate the situation thoroughly. To further enhance oversight, Managing Director Freeborn Okhiria has appointed Mohammed Modibo Ibrahim as the new manager of the AKTS, effective immediately.

Additionally, the NRC plans to increase train service frequencies on this route within the next two weeks, as directed by the managing director.

The NRC had launched a N900 million e-ticketing platform for the Abuja-Kaduna route on January 22, 2021, aimed at minimizing physical interactions between passengers and staff. This initiative was part of a broader effort to modernize train services, which included the recent launch of electronic ticketing for the Lagos-Ibadan and Itakpe-Warri routes.