NRC Warns Against Third-Party Ticket Purchases, Tightens Anti-Racketeering Measures
The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has warned passengers against purchasing train tickets from unauthorized third parties, stating that violators risk ticket cancellation, denial of boarding, and prosecution.
In a statement, the corporation emphasized that tickets procured outside its official booking channels are invalid. It directed passengers to use the official online platform, *https://nrc.tps.ng*, to ensure the validity of their journeys and avoid inconvenience.
As part of efforts to enforce compliance, the NRC is strengthening its ticket verification system. An NRC official disclosed that newly installed access-control gates will prevent passengers from utilizing illegitimate tickets.
The verification process employs QR-code scanning linked directly to the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) database.
“When you want to buy, there’s a QR code they scan, and it goes to NIMC’s back end to reconfirm that your NIN matches the one used to purchase the ticket. So, when there’s a conflict there, they will deprive you of entering,” the official explained.
The unauthorized ticket trade typically emerges when the official booking platform indicates that a train is fully booked. Desperate travelers often resort to individuals claiming to have access to seats, thereby bypassing the official concessionaires approved by the corporation.
The official stressed that both buyers and sellers of unauthorized tickets face legal liability.
“It takes two to be in the business. It takes a willing person that wants to buy an illegal ticket to get an agent that will sell one to him. And the two, if caught, are liable to be prosecuted,” the official stated, adding that some passengers have already incurred penalties.
This advisory follows the NRC’s rebuttal of recent viral allegations regarding ticket racketeering on the Abuja–Kaduna Train Service. Instagram blogger Faizah Raji had accused the corporation of creating artificial ticket scarcity and facilitating inflated resale prices through agents.
The NRC denied the claims, clarifying that it does not directly manage ticket sales. Ticketing is handled by SecureID/TPS for the Abuja route, Global Software Digital Solutions for Lagos–Ibadan, and Fane Warri-Itakpe Ticketing Solutions Limited for the Warri–Itakpe route.
The corporation attributed the Abuja–Kaduna ticket shortage primarily to passenger demand exceeding available supply by more than tenfold. It also acknowledged security vulnerabilities at Rigasa station in Kaduna, where associates of scammers have occasionally overwhelmed security personnel.
The NRC reiterated its zero-tolerance policy on racketeering, warning that any staff member found culpable or colluding with offenders will face disciplinary action.
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