Ticket Racketeering: Minister moves to curb sharp practices at Abuja - Kaduna train station

Following growing complaints by pas­sengers over train ticket racketeering by persons at the Abuja- Ka­duna train station and the dilapidating state of facili­ties, the Minister of Trans­portation, Hon Rotimi Amaechi has removed the Station Managers, Porters, and Ticket Officials at Idu and Rigasa rail stations to re­solve the issue.
Amaechi who was also visibly unimpressed by the poor maintenance of facilities at the station dis­closed the removal during an inspection of the Abu­ja-Kaduna rail stations on Friday
He said ` I am remov­ing the station manag­ers in Idu and Rigasa, the Porters and ticket officials will be removed let’s see if it will resolve the com­plaints of passengers using the rail.
`` Some of them had earlier complained on so­cial media; I believe that if any system fails it’s because the leaders allow it to fail and I will not allow that.
`` The N56 million we are spending monthly, is it just for diesel alone? It is for general maintenance of all the stations and the environment. We will fix the lift within one week to ensure that passengers use it for their luggages, `` he said.
According to him, the removal of the officials will send a clear message to other workers over their nonchalant attitude to­wards work as well as put a stop to sharp practices in ticket sales at the stations.
Also speaking, Mr Pas­chal Nnorli, the Manager, Abuja-Kaduna Train Ser­vice said the complaints from passengers was over one month.
According to him, he disguised as a passenger to be able to catch those in­volved in ticket racketeer­ing which led to one of the Porter boys being caught.