Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State has ordered that the operations of the Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO) be restricted strictly to its offices across the state.
The governor also approved the exemption of mini-bus drivers and tricycle riders from the purchase of transport tickets on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays.
The directives were contained in a statement issued on Saturday by the Chief Press Secretary and Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the governor, Linus Obogo.
The measures followed a recent protest by commercial bus drivers in the Calabar metropolis and growing concerns by residents over the high cost of transport tickets, excessive fines, and alleged harassment by enforcement teams of the Commercial Transport Regulatory Agency (CTRA), the Traffic Management and Regulatory Agency (TRAMRA), and the VIO.
“In a similar vein, the operations of the VIO are now restricted to its offices. In the spirit of the governor’s ‘Season of Sweetness,’ mini-bus drivers and tricycle riders are also exempted from the purchase of tickets on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays,” the statement partly read.
According to the statement, the directives will take effect from Monday, March 9, 2026, while members of the public are urged to cooperate with the relevant agencies.
The government said the measures were approved to ease the burden on drivers and restore order in the transport system following a meeting involving the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, the Special Adviser on General Duties to the governor, and other key stakeholders in the transport sector.
As part of the new measures, the daily ticket for commercial bus operators has been reduced from ₦850 to ₦500, while the penalty for failure to purchase the ticket has been cut to ₦10,000.
The government also announced a 50 per cent reduction in all traffic-related fines, adding that such fines must be paid only into designated Cross River State Government accounts.
Similarly, the ticket fee for tricycle riders has been reduced from ₦1,200 to ₦500. However, tricycle operators are now required to end operations by 6 p.m., as night operations have been permanently banned.
The statement further directed the Commercial Transport Regulatory Agency to focus strictly on the registration of commercial vehicles, the sale of tickets at approved rates, and enforcement of ticket compliance.
“All enforcement personnel must operate in proper uniform and carry verifiable identification,” it added.
TRAMRA, on its part, has been directed to restrict its operations strictly to its statutory traffic management responsibilities.
The government also announced that all dues, levies, and fines must henceforth be paid into the designated government account: TIN No. 1900737994–001; Payer’s Name: DOPT, Calabar; Revenue Code: 402064; Revenue Description: Road Taxes/Penalty Fee.
