A passenger has exposed the trick used by a clique of the staff of the Nigerian Railway Corporation to swindle the corporation of some of the fares that should accrue to it.
The passenger, Daramola Adenike, narrated how he and other passengers were shepherded into a coach of the train without obtaining tickets.
She said a uniformed official of the corporation later came into the coach to collect cash from them without issuing them any receipt or ticket.
Adenike wrote on X: “On my way to Lagos from Ibadan today, some NRC employees lured us to board the train without tickets. Initially, they acted like they were taking us to the ticket counter only for them to lead us to the railway without an official ticket. They collected cash in transit. On 2nd October 2023, my friends and I were going back to Lagos after a weekend getaway in Ibadan. We arrived at the Train Station around 03:40 pm. While we were walking to the entrance of Obafemi Awolowo Train Station Ibadan, a uniformed NRC official approached us. He asked if we had the tickets, and I told him we were on our way to get tickets. He then asked how many we were, and I told him that we were five (5). He told us to follow him. We were confident we could trust him because he was wearing a uniform and identified as a staff. My friends and I followed him thinking he was leading us to the ticket counter, only for us to pass through screening and head towards the railway. I immediately told him that we did not have tickets to board the train, but he said I shouldn’t worry, that it would be sorted. He handed me over to another uniformed staff who led us to Coach 7. I told the lady the same thing, that we did not have tickets, and she said she was aware and it would be sorted. I was so uncomfortable and unsettled, so I asked two other persons if they had tickets. I discovered every single person onboard Coach 7 had no ticket and were lured in the same way. At this time, I realized what was happening and became more uncomfortable. I was about to step out to look for the ticket counter when I saw the time. It was 3:55 pm. While pacing and looking for a staff, I saw new people come into the train, and I approached one of them. I asked him if he had a ticket, and he said yes. I asked him when he got the ticket, and he replied, “Just now.” This ruled out my assumption that we were too late. I saw the uniformed staff that led us into the train and asked him about the tickets. His response was that we were a group of 5, so if we went to the counter to purchase the tickets, we would not be able to sit together. I was shocked. He couldn’t even make up something believable. I went back to my seat. I still had my money with me, so I would wait and see what happens next. A few minutes after the train started moving, they started collecting cash from people on Coach 7. I paid N18,000 cash for 5 persons. Over 60 persons paid N3,600 each without tickets. Oh, the story did not end there!
“When we got to Funmilayo Kuti Station in Abeokuta, people boarded the train, but guess what? They sold Coach 7 tickets to them without assigned seats! These people got onboard and had no seat. It was so embarrassing. I had to let a lady share with me.”
An Ibadan-based journalist confirmed that he had also experienced it. He disclosed that when they approached him to collect money, he dropped the names of their management staff, and they were frightened and consequently stopped collecting cash from them. He said they later returned with excess luggage tickets, which they issued to them for the cash collected from them. (See below). Many other X users joined the thread to share similar experiences. Apparently, this has been going on for a while. The NRC has taken to its official X handle to acknowledge the claims and promised that the corporation would investigate and mete out appropriate sanctions to any staff found culpable. Watch the video here.
The video attached to the post showed the encounter between the passenger, Daramola Adenike, and the uniformed NRC officials on the train. In the video, Adenike can be heard questioning the officials about the lack of tickets and receipts, while they tried to assure her that everything would be sorted out.
The exposé quickly gained traction on social media, with many users expressing their outrage and sharing their own similar experiences. It became evident that this was not an isolated incident but a widespread problem plaguing the Nigerian Railway Corporation.
As the news spread, more passengers came forward with their stories, detailing how they had been coerced into paying cash without receiving proper tickets or receipts. The fraudulent activities seemed to be happening across different train stations and involved various employees of the NRC.
The Ibadan-based journalist who had experienced a similar incident shared his account, revealing how he had initially stood his ground and mentioned the names of higher-ups in the NRC management. Frightened by the mention of their superiors, the officials stopped demanding money from him and his companions. However, they later resorted to issuing fake excess luggage tickets to justify the collected cash.
The revelations elicited a strong response from the public, who demanded immediate action from the NRC. Many called for a thorough investigation into the matter and for those responsible to face disciplinary measures. The passengers who had fallen victim to the scam also expressed their disappointment and frustration at the lack of transparency and accountability within the corporation.
In response to the mounting pressure, the Nigerian Railway Corporation addressed the issue on their official X handle. They acknowledged the claims made by passengers and assured the public that a comprehensive investigation would be conducted. The NRC pledged to identify and punish any staff members found to be involved in the embezzlement of fares.
As the investigation unfolded, more details emerged about the extent of the fraudulent activities. It became increasingly evident that this was not just a few rogue employees, but a well-organized scheme involving multiple individuals at various levels of the NRC.
The public demanded swift justice, urging the Nigerian Railway Corporation to take immediate action to restore trust and integrity to the train service. The government was also called upon to ensure that the investigation was thorough and transparent, with no attempts to cover up or protect those involved.
In the meantime, passengers were advised to always acquire legitimate tickets and insist on receipts when paying fares. The exposé served as a wake-up call not only to the Nigerian Railway Corporation but also to the wider public, highlighting the pervasive corruption that still existed in certain sectors of society. Only through continued vigilance and accountability could these issues be addressed and resolved, ensuring a safer and more transparent transportation system for all.
