The Governor of Cross River State, Bassey Otu, has approved a reduction in transport ticket charges for commercial drivers and ordered that the Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO) operate strictly from its offices across the state.
The governor made the announcement in a statement shared on his Facebook page on Saturday after meeting with transport authorities and other stakeholders to address complaints from drivers and residents in Calabar over ticket fees, penalties, and enforcement practices.
According to the governor, the decision is aimed at easing the financial burden on transport operators while promoting transparency and fairness in the transport system.
Otu explained that daily ticket fees for commercial buses have been reduced from ₦850 to ₦500.
He said, “Following the concerns raised by commercial transport operators and residents across the Calabar metropolis regarding transport tickets, fines and enforcement practices, I convened a meeting with relevant authorities and stakeholders to address the issues decisively.”
The governor also revealed that the penalty for failing to purchase the ticket has been fixed at ₦10,000, while traffic-related fines across the state have been reduced by 50 per cent.
In addition, the ticket charge for tricycle riders has been cut from ₦1,200 to ₦500.
Otu said enforcement officers would now be required to operate only in proper uniforms and carry valid identification while carrying out their duties.
“Enforcement officers must operate strictly in proper uniforms and carry verifiable identification to ensure accountability and professionalism,” he stated.
The governor further clarified the responsibilities of transport regulatory agencies in the state.
He said the Commercial Transport Regulatory Agency would focus on registering commercial vehicles and selling tickets at approved rates, while the Traffic Management and Regulatory Agency would concentrate on traffic control.
Otu also directed that the operations of the Vehicle Inspection Office be limited to its offices across the state.
“In the same vein, the operations of the Vehicle Inspection Office are now restricted to its offices,” he said.
As part of measures to ease the burden on transport operators, the governor added that mini-bus drivers and tricycle riders would no longer be required to purchase tickets on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays.
However, he maintained that tricycle operators must end their activities by 6 p.m., stressing that night operations remain permanently prohibited.
“These directives will take effect from Monday, March 9, 2026,” Otu said, urging transport operators and residents to cooperate with authorities to ensure orderliness in the state’s transport sector.
