The ticket racketeering on the Warri-Itakpe and Abuja-Kaduna train routes undermines Nigeria’s railway modernisation efforts, subjecting passengers to security risks.
Development Diaries reports that many Nigerians have been reported to be subjected to untold frustrations due to ticket racketeering by some security personnel and officials of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC).
It is also understood, according to an investigative piece by Sahara Reporters, that the activities of these personnel have heightened the chances of insecurity on the Warri-Itakpe and Abuja-Kaduna trains.
According to the report, ticket racketeering has become a quick business for NRC officials at Itakpe railway station.
Despite the government’s investment in transitioning from the outdated narrow gauge to the international standard gauge system, which should enhance safety, efficiency, and connectivity, corruption within the system continues to thrive.
This issue is particularly glaring on the Warri-Itakpe route, where some security personnel and officials of the NRC facilitate the illegal smuggling of passengers onto trains, bypassing standard ticketing procedures.
The lack of oversight and accountability has enabled these corrupt practices to persist, despite the deployment of advanced technology such as the ASNL TB 100/100 scanners, which are supposed to enhance safety by detecting dangerous substances in luggage.
While these scanners work effectively on the Abuja-Kaduna route, they have not been properly utilised on the Warri-Itakpe line.
This inconsistency points to a systemic problem that allows security personnel and NRC officials to exploit passengers, putting public safety at risk and damaging the credibility of the railway services.
To address these issues, there is an urgent need for accountability and transparency within the Nigerian railway system.
Addressing ticket racketeering and corruption in Nigeria’s railways requires decisive action from the government.
It is important to note that maintaining public trust in Nigeria’s railway services is key, as the current situation erodes that trust and also hampers the full potential of the rail system to serve Nigerians efficiently and safely.
A commitment to transparency and increased oversight would help restore faith in the system, ensuring that Nigerians can rely on safe, affordable, and corruption-free rail transport.
In light of these, Development Diaries calls on the Managing Director, NRC, Fidet Okhiria, to initiate independent audits of railway officials and security personnel, ensuring that their activities are closely monitored.
We also call for a strengthening of penalties for those found engaging in racketeering in order to deter further misconduct and send a strong message that corruption will not be tolerated within the railway sector.
Photo source: NRC
