E-TICKETING FOR LAGOS -IBADAN, WARRI- ITAKPE RAIL LINES BEGINS NOVEMBER 1st

 .. As NRS Says S Initiative Will Boost Revenue Generation 

The Federal Government has launched the e-ticketing platform for the Lagos-Ibadan and Warri-Itakpe rail lines.

The Minister of Transportation, Sen. Saidu Akali said the initiative will make ticket purchase easy, enhance security and curb ticket racketeering.

Speaking during the launch of the platform in Abuja on Monday, the minister also explained that the new platform was imperative as the present administration has zero tolerance for corruption. 

He also revealed that the platform would take effect from November 1st, 2023.

The Minister said: "The essence of e-ticketing is to make it easy for our passengers to buy tickets, for security purposes and to stop ticket racketeering because this administration has zero tolerance for corruption". 

The Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Engr. Fidet Okharia said the initiative will boost revenue generation for the country.

Speaking on the need to have an e-ticketing platform, Okhiria said: "The process has been on for about three years and it has finally come to fruition. Nigerians would be able to buy their tickets online and start their journey without any hindrance or struggle of running to the station.

"I am so happy about this project, apart from the fact that e-ticketing will end issues of ticket racketeering, it will also increase the revenue from the routes."

Stating the benefit of an online platform, NRC MD said: "We have witnessed significant growth in our revenue in the last week. I can say that we did not earn anything less than N4 million last week in a day from the Warri-Itakpe line last week. So, by the time the e-ticketing commences, the Itakpe-Warri earning would be higher."

On ticket racketeering, Okhiria said:  "Four staff that were caught involved in ticket racketeering on the Lagos-Ibadan rail corridor have been sacked, seven others caught for other offenses  have been demoted and for the Warri-Itakpe corridor, two people have been suspended."

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Magdalene Ajani explained the mode of the contract.

She said: "It is a concession and it went through a concession process.  The private sector that brought in their money to get this technology done would recoup their money over a period of ten years and it was duly awarded by the Federal Executive Council earlier in the year. 

The contractors in charge of the platforms are; Fane International Consult Ltd for the Warri-Itakpe rail line while Global Software and Digital Solutions is handling the Lagos-Ibadan rail line.