E- TICKETING SYSTEM IN NIGERIAN RAIL TRANSPORTATION: MATTERS ARISING
Electronics ticketing system was recently launched for operations in the Nigerian Railway Corporation, NRC, operators of the Abuja-Kaduna Train Service.
The introduction of the e-ticketing platform among other things aims at a"seamless transaction for ticketing and planning of travel at the convenience of both the customer and service provider".
Honourable Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi stated that this development marks the beginning of automation of ticket sales at all major stations on the Abuja - Kaduna train service route, in line with global best practices.
According to Amaechi, the E-Ticketing initiative is expected to enhance efficiency, save time, promote accountability, eliminate revenue leakage and promote economic growth.
Jide Ihizele while lauding the development on his Linked In page hoped that e-ticketing would lead to a reduction in waiting time "which will improve the competitiveness of rail transport through providing a more seamless door to door mode."
" I think what is even more exciting is the potential data on travel patterns/behaviours that can be retrieved by analysing time table and ticket sales information. There is a real opportunity for railway stake holders to design a system that can help better forecast rail demand". He asserts further as he concludes. " This would be transformational for rail planning in Nigeria."
The chairman of the NRC Board who was on hand with other members of the board to witness the virtual launch that took place in the Honourable Minister of Rail Transportation's office remarked that the introduction of the e-ticketing system puts an end to ticket racketeering.
But is this truly the end to sharp practices associated with ticket sales at stations on the Abuja-Kaduna route that was giving NRC a bad image but usually at the expense of riders?
Not with the confusion that greeted the commencement of the e-ticketing system and reports about some intending passengers who purchased their tickets on line from a website but were advised to get their tickets directly from the stations because the website through which the tickets were obtained was fake.
Daily Trust in an editorial last week observed that the internal procedure for the introduction of e tickets may have been sabotaged by insiders who took advantage of the lack of due diligence and inability by NRC to protect the internal process for introducing the electronic platform, and advised NRC to double its due diligence in keeping the internal procedure for the operating the electronic platform secured.
Another factor that has obviously contributed to the confusion that has accompanied the introduction of e-ticketing is inadequate enlightenment and publicity of the public. A great percentage of customers or potential riders are still not in tune with the new procedure for ridership on the Abuja-Kaduna Train Service through the on line platform, even though it could be estimated that over 19,000 passengers have accessed their tickets through the e-ticketing app with over 8,000 recorded in the first three days of the launch of the website.
The Corporation needs to carry customers along,by adequately educating them true conventional and popular means as well as make boldly available the legitimate website through which riders can book for tickets from their comfort zones. Like Daily Trust said "A situation where commuters are left in the dark about this innovation encourages speculators to take advantage."
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