By Kasim Sumaina in Abuja

Officials at the Rigasa Railway Station of the Abuja-Kaduna rail lines have been accused of hoarding tickets from intending purchasers, thereby subjecting them to unnecessary hardship.

THISDAY checks at the station yesterday revealed an ugly situation where ticket sellers were heavily involved in racketeering.

THISDAY met a chaotic scene when it visited the station as passengers who queued up were later seen running helter-skelter trying to obtain the ticket.

A particular staff in charge of tickets, Mr. Nabasa, allegedly left intending purchasers who were on queue to personally sell tickets to those he felt could afford it at a high price to the amazement of everyone.

The situation at Rigasa, according to a passenger, has shown that the much talked-about change by the current administration of President Muhammadu Buhari has not yielded any results.

A particular passenger who agreed to speak to THISDAY after some subtle persuasion, said the best solution to ticket racketeering was the introduction of online purchases.

According to him, “My name is Jemilu Dabo, a staff of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), I came here (train station) around 12:30p.m.“Actually I joined the queue but, unfortunately I was told that the ticket was finished. But I have to call someone to be able to get one at a higher price.”

He added: “The person I called is a staff of the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC), and he is here at the Rigasa Rail Station. I gave him about N3,000 for me and my friend for the standard class as against the normal price of N1,050. And he immediately gave me the same ticket he said was finished.”

He said: “My suggestion is that the federal government should introduce the online ticketing just the same way you book for flights. The introduction of online ticketing will go a long way to reduce bureaucracy and hoarding on the part of the management as well as enhance speedy services thereby saving passengers unnecessary hardship of joining the queue in an attempt to obtain the ticket.

“Though the online could affect those who cannot read or write, however, for those who have the capability for online, he or she can ease their problem of coming to join the queue.”

He however, said some people may not like the idea and some people may not know even how to book online, adding that “there should also be more publicity like advertising on Radio and television as well as social media.”

On the security situation at the rail station, Dabo said: “There is no adequate security to curtail the chaotic situation at the station especially when obtaining tickets. Government should improve the security at the train station.”

Also, Mr. Muhammed Kebir Ibrahim, who was on his way to Abuja from Kebbi State, called for automation of tickets to avoid racketeering.

He told THISDAY that if need be “the government should engage consultants or a financial institution to handle the sales of tickets to avoid financial leakages.”

Continuing, he said: “If a status quo must be maintained, a law should be in place to discourage any operational staff from engaging in ticket selling.”

Similarly, the Police Officers attached to the Abuja-Kaduna rail lines, who bare their minds on the state of things, complained about lack of being motivated by the management of the NRC.

Meanwhile, the coach from Rigasa station in Kaduna to Abuja broke down at the Rijana station due to mechanical fault, THISDAY also learnt.

BREAKING NEWS | N4.1bn Nigeria Railway investment in crisis | By Babalola Yusuf

Barely two years after the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) acquired two set of Diesel Multiple Units (DMU’s) for transportation of passengers in and around the country, have continued to develop mechanical fault unabated.

The DMU’s as popularly called was inaugurated in 2014 by the former Vice-President, Alhaji Mohammed Sambo in Lagos.

It was however revealed that each set of the DMU is made up of three cars and one motor car at each end.

But, since the inauguration of the over N4.1bn modern train, it had continuously developed fault virtually every month thereby leaving its passengers stranded.

The constant breakdown of the machine was due to poor maintenance on the side of the corporation.

Eventhough, the recently sacked Managing Director of NRC, Seyi Sijuade argued that strategic initiatives are being adopted by the corporation to ensure sustainability of its current investment especially in the modern rail infrastructure.

While acknowledging that no substantial arrangements had been made in the past to sustain investments after cutting the red tape, he said part of the arrangement for the sustainability of its investment in the DMU, is the retention of technical skills needed to maintain the newly acquired trains.

According to him, “We have a two-year maintenance deal with the manufacturers of these DMUs and the six coaches, that is, the China Southern Railways, CSR.

We have a two-year deal with them for maintenance of these coaches and the DMUs. What makes this deal unique is that it is a residential deal. This means that the company has posted six technicians to NRC to live here with us.

But, commuters have doubt the maintenance deal saying the machine developed faults, virtually every month.

For instance, the vehicle was rarely maintained by the management of the NRC and had let to constant breakdown of the engine.

On Monday, the Iddo (Lagos Island) bound DMU brokedown about four places before it could got to its final destination.

The machine which was supposed to get to its destination within 45 minutes got there about one and half our late.

These however disrupted other trains service that was supposed to depart to Apapa after the departure of the DMU to Lagos Island.

The Apapa MTT train that was supposed to depart Ijoko (Ogun State) terminal at 6:30am, could not move until after an hour later, due to the mechanical fault developed by the DMU on its way to Lagos Island.

Workers who were supposed to resume early to their respective offices complained bitterly, saying they don’t know fate that await them in their respective work place.

Speaking to our correspondent, a concerned Railway commuter, Saheed Abubarkar berated the corporation for poor management.

He said there have never been a month that the DMU doesn’t develop fault.

“Nigeria lacks technical know how to maintain these machines and they should have invited technicians from the country they purchased them because these embarrassment was becoming too much.”

However, as commuters were still relishing the Monday disappointment, the DMU developed another fault on Tuesday evening as commuters were forced to join the densely populated MTT.

The commuters who were about 250 could not be ferried to their destinations as the machine developed fault mid-way to their journey.

According to Chukuemeka Uche, the machine developed fault immediately they left the Apapa terminus.

“The machine developed mechanical fault immediately we left the terminus but the driver managed it up to the NRC headquarters where we were asked to join the densely populated MTT.

The FG should investigate the purchase of the DMU as it is purely a scam.”

Uche stated that the DMU is full of mechanical fault, that the contract execution and purchase must not be swept under the carpet.

“I not electrical fault, it will b mechanical I think the purchase of the DMU should be probed to know whether it was the specification prescribed to the government that was purchased.

However, industry analysts had earlier feared during the inauguration of the DMUs’ that at the speed with which events are unfolding, the corporation may soon be overwhelmed, and relapse to inefficiency which characterised the railway, will become inevitable.

Their argument boils down to the fact that without a conscious effort to maintain the infrastructure, the investment would have amounted to nothing; as fleeting investment always meant that little room is left for sustainability. These fears are not unfounded. Over the years, investments in the rail sector have been bereft of any sustainability plans.

There are poor technical skills which results in poor maintenance of rolling stocks. These further lead to poor service delivery, leaving a situation that makes it obvious that although the corporation desires huge investments, they are not entirely prepared for the business of rail transportation. http://nigeriannewsdirect.com/n4-1bn-nigeria-railway-investment-in-crisis/

Blue3k2:
They why government shouldn't manage things. What possible excuse is there not to online ticket sales in 2018. Just scan the boarding pass like airlines do every single day.

gurunlocker:
Don't know why it's hard to just be truthful in this country and make things work!

Blue3k2:
They why government shouldn't manage things. What possible excuse is there not to online ticket sales in 2018. Just scan the boarding pass like airlines do every single day.

erico2k2:
Pass it on to Private people and we are good to go, can anyone racket Air france tkt?
Private investors are the way to go.They know how to cover loop holes.