Governor Bans VIO from Roadside Operations

The Cross River State Government has prohibited Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIO) from conducting roadside operations, restricting their activities to office-based duties.

The decision follows protests by commercial transport operators over alleged harassment and excessive penalties.

Governor Bassey Otu announced the directive in Calabar after a meeting with transport stakeholders, according to a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Linus Obogo.

The move comes in response 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 limited 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 the daily transport ticket fee from N850 to N500, while penalties for failure to purchase tickets have been reduced to N10,000. Traffic-related fines have also been cut by 50 per cent and must be paid 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 have also been prohibited, with operations now ending at 6 p.m. daily.

Additionally, commercial bus and tricycle operators will be exempt from ticket purchases on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays, a measure aimed at providing financial relief.

Governor Otu said the reforms are intended to restore order in the state’s transport sector while easing the financial burden on drivers.

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

The Traffic Management and Regulatory Agency (TRAMRA) has also been directed to limit its role strictly 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.

A commercial driver, Johnson Ade, suggested that the government should publish an official list of traffic offences 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.

Meanwhile, 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.

Source: Daily Post