The Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Fidet Okhiria, has announced that passengers travelling on the Warri-Itakpe Train Service routes and other routes will now have access to the digital online ticketing system, which the corporation launched on Tuesday.
Okhiria had made this promise during a symposium on railway safety held in June in collaboration with Transport Day Magazine and its partners. He assured Nigerians that the E-Ticketing platform would be operational within five months, starting November 1, 2023.
Highlighting the need for digital transformation in the railway sector, Okhiria explained that the process of generating an e-ticket is straightforward. Anyone wishing to use the digital ticketing system must possess a National Identity Number (NIN).
He further explained, “After obtaining your NIN, you can access the platform as a guest or log in to view available coaches and types, select a train based on departure time and class, choose a seat from the seat map, proceed to make a payment, and generate your ticket.”
Okhiria emphasized that the traditional manual ticketing system was outdated and fraught with numerous issues, causing inconvenience to both the Corporation and passengers.
He noted that the new electronic ticketing system was first tested on the Itakpe-Warri train services, and it will now be available on all routes.
This innovation will allow passengers to purchase their tickets online from the comfort of their homes 48 hours before their journey, reducing physical contact with NRC staff.
The move to digital ticketing is vital due to reports of misconduct by some NRC officials caught engaging in ticket racketeering. The new platform aims to eliminate such misconduct, ensuring that the money paid for train rides goes to the rightful recipients and minimizes errors.
Fidet Okhiria underscored the significance of this development, mentioning that it marks a milestone in the history of the Nigerian Railway Corporation.
He also noted that the e-ticketing system had already been successfully tested and implemented on the Abuja-Kaduna route, and it is set to commence on the Warri-Itakpe lines by November 1.
Adopting e-ticketing is expected to reduce human interference, improve revenue collection, and minimize the potential for passengers to be overcharged by staff. This digital solution enhances security for passenger funds and government revenues, ensuring a more efficient and transparent ticketing process for all travellers.
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