[TODAY] Abuja-Kaduna train passengers complain of ticket hoarding

Commuters using the Abuja-Kaduna train service have often complained of ticket hoarding which they view with much concern, Daily Trust reports.

Our correspondent who visited the train station yesterday at 2pm observed that tickets were being sold as scheduled, but that there had been cases when customers wanting to ply the 4pm train came to the station as early as 12 noon only to be told the tickets had finished.

A commuter, Gloria James said urgent steps needed to be taken to address the issue of ticketing, as the survival of the train service was under threat.

“Last Friday, I was at the train station at 1pm to buy a ticket for the 4pm ride only to be told the tickets had been sold out. It was later around 4pm when the train came that I was able to buy a second class ticket for N2, 000 instead of N1, 050. Fortunately, today, I had no difficulty purchasing a ticket. I hope the government looks into the matter to save the train service, especially with the cases of kidnapping along the Abuja-Kaduna road,” Gloria said, adding that hoarding of tickets was mostly done during the weekends and on festive periods.

Speaking to our Kaduna correspondent also, a commuter, Mrs. Hajara Idris who was going to Abuja, described her previous train ride as fantastic. “I loved the experience. I got a first class ticket and I was given a number. When the train stopped at the terminal, we were asked to queue.”

Asked if she had been a victim of ticket hoarding, she said, “I have never been a victim of that but I heard people close to me grumble about it.”

On his part, Mr. Akpan John said, “We need to work towards a computerized system of issuing tickets. This will reduce the manipulation going on with the present ticketing system.”

But reacting yesterday to the allegation of ticket hoarding, the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) said there was no iota of truth to it.

Mr. Niyi Ali, Director of Operations of NRC, told Daily Trust in a telephone interview that it was not possible to hoard the tickets.

Also speaking with our correspondent in Lagos, spokesman of the NRC, Mr. Mahmoud Yakubu described the report as unfounded, saying the ‘rumour’ was due to the current rush for the service.

“Honestly there is nothing like hoarding. This is a busy period and people buy tickets against tomorrow’s trip. We are looking for customers. So we can’t be hoarding tickets,” he said.