The National Identity Number is now compulsory for passenger
profiling when boarding the Abuja-Kaduna Train Service, the Nigerian Railway
Corporation has said.
The Managing Director of the Corporation, Fidet Okhiria,
announced this on Thursday during an interview on Arise TV. The NIN which is no
longer optional according to the NRC boss is part of the new security measures
adopted by the government.
The Minister of Transport had last week announced the resumption
of train service along the Abuja-Kaduna route after it was suspended in March
this year.
He said, “Now we are going to include profiling of passengers on
the train. It is not like that in the developed world. You can go to the
station and buy your ticket nobody will ask for your passport, but being in the
situation we have found ourselves in, we need to profile passengers.
“We are collaborating with NIMC and ensuring that not only when
you come to board the train, but your actual self will also show on the monitor
and you will see it. If you are not the one, the gates will not open for you.
“We have also introduced a ticket dispensing machine, there are
other facilities we have introduced to ensure that proper profiling is done.”
He said the system will ask for NIN to ensure the person buying
the ticket is buying for the person that is actually traveling. For visitors,
the NRC boss said someone with NIN must be able to identify the person.
He said that the number of Police, Civil Defense, and Military
personnel would also be increased. Okhiria said, “We are working with the
security system of the country including the Military, the Police and Civil
defense. Also, we are introducing technology.
“We are now in a position to at least know the real-time
location of our train and at the same time have the visuals of the train and
the immediate surrounding.
“The IG has promised that more security men, professional ones,
and counter-terrorism police will be deployed. As I speak, an Area Command has
been set up for the Abuja- Kaduna.”
He said the innovation will not be limited to Abuja-Kaduna,
adding that it will be extended to Lagos-Ibadan and Itakpe-Warri lines.
Okhiria also disclosed that member of staff of the NRC has also
been added to the passenger’s insurance scheme.
“We are having an additional insurance scheme that covers the
passengers to cover the guards and cleaners among others,” he said.
He also revealed that the 95 per cent increase in worker’s
salaries would be addressed soonest. “The 95 per cent I said is just for the
National Salaries and Wages Commission to sanction it and pass it into the
budget and everybody will start enjoying it.”
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