Gov Otu suspends VIO roadside operations in Cross River

The Cross River State Government has directed Vehicle Inspection Officers, VIO, to stop carrying out roadside operations and restrict their activities to their offices.

The move followed protests by commercial transport operators who complained about alleged harassment and heavy penalties imposed on them.

Governor Bassey Otu announced the directive on Saturday in Calabar after holding a meeting with transport stakeholders.

In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Linus Obogo, the governor said the decision was aimed at addressing the concerns raised by transport operators and restoring order in the system.

The move responds to complaints from commercial bus and tricycle operators, who accused enforcement teams of issuing excessive fines, harassing motorists, and imposing inflated penalties.

Under the new measures, VIO officials will no longer operate on the roads. Their responsibilities will now be restricted to administrative functions, while other transport regulatory bodies are expected to operate strictly within their statutory mandates.

As part of the reforms, the government approved a reduction in daily transport ticket fees from N850 to N500, while penalties for failure to purchase tickets have been lowered to N10,000. Traffic-related fines have also been cut by 50 per cent and must be remitted only into designated government accounts to prevent illegal collections.

For tricycle operators, the daily ticket fee has been reduced from N1,200 to N500. Night operations for tricycles are now prohibited, with operations ending at 6 p.m. daily.

Also, commercial bus and tricycle operators are exempt from ticket purchases on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays, a measure intended to provide financial relief.

Governor Otu stated that the reforms aim to restore order in the state’s transport sector while easing the financial burden on drivers.

He clarified that the Commercial Transport Regulatory Agency, CTRA, will now focus on vehicle registration and approved ticket sales, and that enforcement officers must operate in proper uniforms with verifiable identification.

The Traffic Management and Regulatory Agency, TRAMRA, has also been instructed to limit its role to traffic management functions.

The directives will take effect from March 9, 2026, with the governor urging residents and transport operators to cooperate with relevant authorities.

Despite the announcement, some transport operators have expressed concerns that the reforms do not fully address all enforcement issues. Johnson Ade, a commercial driver, suggested that the government should publish an official list of traffic infractions and corresponding fines to prevent confusion and reduce the risk of impersonation.

“Reducing fines by 50 per cent is too general. Specific amounts for each offence should be clearly defined,” he said.

Mr Sunday Dennis, Metropolitan Chairman of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria, RTEAN, said the union would hold an emergency meeting to review the governor’s directives and discuss their implications for operators.

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