The Cross River State Government has prohibited Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIOs) from conducting road operations across Cross River State, restricting their activities strictly to office duties.
The directive was announced on Saturday in Calabar by Governor Bassey Otu, following growing complaints from transport operators over alleged harassment and excessive fines by enforcement teams.
Decision followed drivers’ protests
According to a statement issued by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Linus Obogo, the decision came after protests by commercial bus drivers and tricycle operators who accused enforcement officials of imposing high ticket fees and penalties.
The governor said the new measures were adopted after consultations with key stakeholders in the transport sector.
As part of the reforms, the government announced a reduction in daily transport ticket fees and traffic penalties.
Under the new arrangement, the daily ticket for commercial bus drivers has been reduced from N850 to N500, while the penalty for failing to obtain the ticket has been lowered to N10,000.
In addition, the governor ordered that all traffic-related fines be reduced by 50 percent and paid only into designated government accounts.
For tricycle operators, the daily ticket has also been cut from N1,200 to N500.
However, the government introduced a new restriction stating that commercial tricycle operations must end by 6 p.m. daily, effectively banning night-time operations.
Governor Otu explained that the policy changes were intended to reduce the financial burden on transport operators while improving order within the state’s transport system.
He said the Commercial Transport Regulatory Agency (CTRA) would now concentrate on vehicle registration and ticket sales at officially approved rates.
Meanwhile, the Traffic Management and Regulatory Agency (TRAMRA) has been directed to focus solely on its statutory responsibility of managing traffic.
The governor also instructed that all enforcement personnel must wear proper uniforms and carry verifiable identification during official duties.
In another relief measure, the government announced that commercial drivers and tricycle operators would no longer be required to purchase daily tickets on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.
The new directives are expected to take effect from March 9.
Despite welcoming the announcement, some commercial drivers expressed concerns that certain issues remain unresolved.
A driver, Johnson Ade, said the government should publish a clear list of traffic offences and their corresponding penalties.
According to him, the directive to slash fines by 50 percent may lead to confusion if the specific amounts payable for each violation are not clearly stated.
He warned that unclear guidelines could enable individuals posing as traffic officials to exploit drivers.
Also speaking, Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) metropolitan chairman Sunday Dennis said the union would convene a meeting to carefully review the governor’s directive.
The government’s latest action follows a series of protests by commercial transport operators in the state, which had earlier forced authorities to temporarily suspend the collection of transport tickets.
