NRC official arrested over alleged ticket racketeering after TheCable’s report

Security operatives have arrested a Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) official at the Ebutte-Metta train station over alleged ticket racketeering. 

The development comes a day after TheCable’s report exposing how the commission’s officials booked tickets online and sold same to passengers.

The action of the officials was despite a federal government initiative that made train services free from December 21, 2023 to January 4, 2024.

In a video shared by TVC on its X platform, officials who appeared to be Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) operatives, were seen shoving the yet-to-be-identified official into a building.

Some passengers were also seen protesting the extortion by officials at the entrance of the train station.

Narrating her ordeal, an eyewitness said an NRC official informed her that some personnel were offering to sell a standard class ticket to her for N3,000, instead of N3,600.

“When we arrived here, the guy said we can book ticket from him online, that he is going to sell it for us N3,000 — instead of N3,600 — that there is no available ticket now,” she said.

Speaking on TheCable’s report, Fidet Okhiria, managing director of the NRC, cautioned passengers against approaching officials for tickets.

“You don’t go there (to train stations) and ask people to give you tickets,” he said.

He emphasised that tickets are free online.

Since TheCable published the story, some social media users have expressed their displeasure over the situation. Others who encountered the extortion at train stations firsthand during the festive period, also shared their unpleasant experiences.