Hundreds of passengers, on Thursday, besieged the ticketing office at the Idu Train Station in Abuja to buy tickets for the Abuja-Kaduna train service, flouting the COVID-19 safety protocols.
At 2:32 pm, our correspondent sighted passengers who had missed the 2:pm train, scampering to get tickets for that of 6 pm.
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Immediately, a staff of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) announced that the counter for ticket purchases was opened, passengers struggled to outpace each other.
The queue had no inch space in between passengers, our correspondent observed.
While purchasing the tickets, they disregarded the COVID-19 protocols of physical distancing and the majority had no face masks on or had them on their chins.
Among the passenger was Grace Luka, who looked obviously frustrated and exhausted.
“They stopped selling the ticket even before the 2 pm train began boarding.
“They claim the train capacity was exhausted. Although some other people come at the last minute, with tickets.
“Perhaps they bought the tickets well ahead of time,” she explained.
Grace, like several others, would wait yet another four hours for a chance to hop into the 6:pm train to Kaduna that would arrive Rigasa, Kaduna at about 8:30 pm
Another passenger, Idris Yunusa, expressed similar frustration and wondered why it is becoming intractable to have e-tickets.
“With the COVID-19 cases rising, it is the best time to introduce e-tickets for the safety of passengers and the NRC staff as well.
“We would have less physical contact with the NRC officials if we can buy tickets online,” he said.
Several other passengers told our correspondent similar tales. Our correspondent put all their frustrations to the NRC officials.
Responding, Mr. Victor Adamu, the NRC Operations Manager, Idu Train Station told our correspondent that the passengers have surged to about 4,500 daily and a significant number of them are unwilling to obey COVID-19 protocols.
He also said the surge is a bit overwhelming. He insisted that they are adhering to social distancing in the train.
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