“Cross River Slashes Transport Ticket Fees, Restricts Vehicle Inspection Officers to Office Based Operations”
Bassey Otu, Governor of Cross River State, has approved a major reduction in transport ticket charges for commercial drivers while directing that officers of the Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO) operate strictly from their designated offices rather than conducting roadside enforcement.
The policy shift follows mounting complaints from commercial transport operators and residents particularly in the state capital, Calabar over multiple levies, fines, and alleged harassment by enforcement agents. According to the governor, the decision was reached after consultations with transport stakeholders and relevant government agencies aimed at easing financial pressure on drivers while improving transparency in the state’s transport regulatory system.
Punch Newspapers
Under the revised framework, the daily ticket fee for commercial buses has been reduced from ₦850 to ₦500, while tricycle operators will also pay ₦500, down from ₦1,200. Authorities also reduced several traffic related fines by approximately 50 percent, part of broader efforts to streamline the regulatory environment for transport operators.
Punch Newspapers
Governor Otu stated that enforcement officers must now wear proper uniforms and carry verifiable identification when carrying out official duties to ensure professionalism and accountability. The government also clarified the roles of key transport regulatory agencies, with the Commercial Transport Regulatory Agency focusing strictly on vehicle registration and ticket sales, while traffic management bodies concentrate on road control and safety functions.
In a further reform, the governor announced that the activities of the Vehicle Inspection Office will be limited to its official premises, effectively removing VIO personnel from roadside operations. The directive is intended to curb alleged extortion and restore public confidence in traffic enforcement institutions.
Additional measures include a weekend and public holiday exemption for ticket payments by mini-bus drivers and tricycle operators, although authorities maintained the existing restriction on nighttime operations for tricycles, which must cease by 6 p.m.
The new directives are scheduled to take effect from March 9, with the state government urging transport unions and motorists to cooperate with regulatory agencies to ensure a safer and more orderly transport system across Cross River.
Punch Newspapers
The reforms form part of a broader governance agenda by the Otu administration aimed at addressing concerns about excessive levies, unlawful enforcement agents, and outdated transport regulations in the state.