RAILWAY OF CORRUPTION: NIGERIANS URGE AMECHI TO INVESTIGATE TICKET RACKETEERING ALLEGATIONS AT RAILWAY STATIONS
Lagos: Nigerians have asked the Minister of Transport, Chibuike Amechi to investigate allegations of ticket racketeering being leveled against officials of the Nigerian Railway Corporation.
This is coming on the heels of allegations of fraud and ticket racketeering reported by a social media user, Maziville on his Facebook page at the Ultra modern Lagos Railway Terminal, Ebute Meta.
The complaint was reproduced below:
“RAILWAY OF CORRUPTION
This is an account of a passenger and not mine.
Read and share if you want us to fight corruption.
JUST THIS MORNINGđđżđđżđđż
Corruption! the ruption! Corruption!
I just witnessed corruption this morning and I was so shocked, tears came to my eyes.
It happened at the New Ultra Modern Lagos Train Terminal Ebute Metta.
Yes, the one President Buhari opened with fanfare, last year.
Mòmò Fela and I woke up as early as 05: am, dressed up quickly, jumped into a Ăber taxi and arrived at the train station around 06:38am for a scheduled 08:00 train to Abeokuta.
We just wanted to experience the much talked about train ride and maybe climb the Olumò Rock in Abeokuta.
Simple.
We were number three on the queue outside.
Jus before 07:00, the doors of the terminal were thrown open and I walked up to a ticket booth.
âThree 1st class tickets to Abeokuta, pleaseâ I smiled at the frowning gum chewing ticket lady.
Chewing gum in public ticket booth, early in the morning?
âFirst class tickets have finished, sirâ
Haaaa!
Now now?
âBut I was told yesterday, when I came to make enquiries, that tickets are not sold in advanceâ
âThat is correct, sir. We donât sell tickets in advanceâ
âBut I am the first person to come in front of you at the Lagos to Abeokuta booth, how come 1st class is sold out?â
âI donât know, sirâ
âCan I speak to a supervisor or manager?â
âHe is not aroundâ
âSo who supervises this big stationâ
âHe is not aroundâ
Na so I start wahala, begin shout!
A few passengers also began to wonder aloud why there were no 1st class tickets available.
I don start commotion!
Someone quickly ran up to me and directed me to a booth where a lady was waiting, looking worried.
âGood morning, what is the problem, sir?â
âWho are you? I would rather speak to a Supervisor, pleaseâ
âI am the PRO sirâ
âPublic Relations Officer? Better!â
âWhat is your name?â
âStella Okafor
âOk Ms Stella, I want to know what happened to the first class tickets that should normally be on sale?â
âSomebody has bought all the the first class tickets, sirâ
âYou sold all the first class tickets to one individual?â
âYes sirâ
Haaaa!
âWhen?â
âBefore we opened, sirâ
âSoooo, you sold all the First class tickets to one individual, in advance, when your policy is not to sell tickets in advance?â
âYes sirâ
âDo you realise that is barefaced corruption by you and your officialsâ
âI donât want trouble oâ
âListen, my name is Mazi Abe and I am a Social Media commentator, with quite a large following.
âI intend to write about this big scam going on hereâ
âYou will need permission for that, sirâ
âNeed permission to write about how you are scamming Nigerians at a newly opened public paying facility?â
âYes, sirâ
âKiss my ass!â
âSir?â
âZaazaa zuuu. Zeh!â
Everybody around me burst into laughter.
But it ainât funny!
Please, kindly share and tag all known government officials and influencers.
This is the way to fight corruption.
In their face.
I dey vext!
Good morning Maziville âď¸âď¸â︔
Nigerians expect Amechi, one of the 2023 Presidential hopefuls in the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) to deal decisively with the issue given his “no nonsense” disposition.