NRC Cracks Down on Ticket Racketeering, Warns Passengers Against Third-Party Purchases

The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has issued a stern warning to passengers against purchasing train tickets from unauthorized third parties, cautioning that violators risk ticket cancellation, denial of boarding, and prosecution.

In a statement, the corporation emphasized that tickets acquired outside its official booking channels are invalid. Passengers are advised to secure their tickets exclusively through the official online platform, https://nrc.tps.ng.

To enforce this, the NRC is strengthening its ticket verification systems. According to an NRC official, newly installed access-control gates will prevent passengers from using illegitimate tickets.

The verification process utilizes QR-code scanning that links 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 third-party ticket market typically thrives when the official booking platform indicates that a train is fully booked. Desperate travelers often turn to individuals who claim to have access to seats, procuring tickets through unauthorized channels rather than the approved concessionaires.

The official warned that both buyers and sellers face legal consequences. “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 said, noting that some passengers have already faced penalties.

The renewed warning follows the NRC’s denial of recent viral allegations of ticket racketeering on the Abuja–Kaduna Train Service. Instagram blogger Faizah Raji had accused the corporation of artificially creating ticket scarcity and reselling tickets through agents at inflated prices, claiming she was forced to pay twice the official fare.

The NRC refuted the claims, clarifying that it does not directly handle ticket sales. Instead, ticketing is managed 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 ticket shortages on the Abuja–Kaduna corridor 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 maintained a zero-tolerance stance on racketeering, warning that any staff member found colluding with unauthorized agents will face disciplinary action.

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