By Edna Ezinneamaka Onunaku
A new system that requires travelers to provide their NIN and Phone Number before the purchase of a ticket for the Abuja-Kaduna Train Service has been introduced.
The Minister of Transportation, Mu’azu Jaji Sambo stated this yesterday while on an inspection train ride from Abuja to Kaduna with some other dignitaries.
Nwafolive gathered that the planned resumption of the Abuja-Kaduna train services previously scheduled for today was no longer feasible due to the ticketing process that needs to be sorted out.
Sambo said there was need for a little extension of about one week to allow the passengers to be properly enlightened on the new process of obtaining tickets and other requirements.
While speaking on the number of trips, he said: “The number of trips will be reduced. Naturally, you should expect that a certain number of passengers will not be comfortable to board the train for obvious reasons.
“We are human beings; we are bound to feel a little bit uncomfortable until we can see that every security measure has been put in place. So, we will reduce the number of trips and as the travelling population picks up, we will increase the number of trips but we will certainly not travel at night for now.
“Please, expect increase in fares. I am having final consultation with the management of NRC and the management of the ministry to see whether it will be immediate or we will take a little time,” the Transportation Minister stated.
“The purchase of a ticket requires you to provide a phone number and a National Identification Number (NIN) in order to profile because that is the beginning of the security checks.
“So, at any point in time when a train moves from one station to another we know who and who are on board. If you don’t have NIN you are not going to board our train. After buying the ticket, you will be given a barcode that would help you gain access into the lounge, when the machine reads the barcode on your receipt, it shows your complete profile only then will you be allowed into the lounge.
“This kind of security measures is according to global best practice as profiling of the passenger is necessary to know who is coming on board,” he further stated.
He said for minors, an adult would only register not more than four minors before using the train service.
“It is as simple as that. If you are a minor, an adult will pay for you and will register for you and an adult can only register for not more than four minors.
On the security of the rail-line, the minister said, “We have increased number of security personnel and without mincing words, some of these security personnel may not be in uniform in order to guarantee safety of the traveling public. There are other sensitive measures that we have deployed which I will not reveal.
“Also, on every journey, the train is monitored every second on a screen and the train driver can see up to a certain distance if there is any threat on the track, that will enable him match the brakes long before getting to the perceived threat.”
