The Federal Government of Nigeria has officially inaugurated the e-ticketing service on the Abuja-Kaduna rail corridor and also announced that the service would be run by a concessionaire.

Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, who inaugurated the online ticketing service during a virtual event in Abuja, said the initiative was a public private partnership valued at N900m.

He said the concessionaire, SecureID, would provide the service and run it for 10 years to recoup its investment before reverting ownership to the Nigerian Railway Corporation.

Amaechi explained that the e-ticketing solution was introduced following numerous complaints by commuters on ticket racketeering at the Abuja-Kaduna train stations.

He said the online ticketing solution marked the beginning of automation of ticket sales in all major stations on the Abuja-Kaduna train service.

“It is in line with global best practice and will enhance efficiency, save time and promote accountability, while also reducing leakage and promoting economic growth,” the minister said.

The Chairman of the Governing Board of NRC, Ibrahim Musa, said the e-ticketing solution had finally put an an end the persistent allegation of ticket racketeering at the train stations.

The Chief Executive Officer, Secure ID Solutions, Kofo Akinkugbe, said the inauguration of the service would lead to multi-model ticketing in public transportation, while allowing for passenger convenience, efficiency and accountability for operators.

She said the service would provide data for government in making better decisions that would enhance the operations of the country’s railways.

Kofo further stated that the e-ticketing solution after a successful pilot programme that was done last week had issued 25,000 tickets online.

She said the solution offered an increased customer experience such as convenient ticket purchase 24 hours a day, seat selection, secured online payments, no physical interaction, among others.