By Emmanuel Adeleke
The Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has said National Identity Number (NIN) would be a requirement to board a train across the country from May, 2022.
The MD of NRC, Fidet Okhiria, disclosed this in Abuja on Thursday.
He said that NIN would be needed to enhance the profiling of passengers, adding that it would also improve the safety and security of rail users.
This move may not be unconnected with the recent terror attack on a train in Kaduna, where eight passengers were killed, while several others sustained injuries. Many others were abducted by the terrorists.
“The process of linking passengers to their NIN for improved profiling is ongoing. This layer of passenger screening will commence by May.
“The Abuja-Kaduna trains service will resume as soon as possible with additional security measures put in place,’’ Okhiria stated.
The NRC suspended the Abuja-Kaduna route following the March 28 attack.
Okhiria added that security agencies were working relentlessly to ensure the rescue and release of all abductees, stressing that 362 passengers and 20 crew members were aboard the train when it was attacked.
