The Cross River State Government has prohibited Vehicle Inspection Officers from performing roadside operations, limiting their responsibilities to office-based tasks.
Following a meeting with transportation stakeholders, the decision was announced on Saturday in Calabar by the state governor, Bassey Otu.
Linus Obogo, the governor’s chief press secretary, revealed the information in a statement.
The ruling came after commercial transportation companies protested, accusing law enforcement of harassing them and imposing harsh penalties.
Operators of commercial buses and tricycles have claimed that during roadside inspections, authorities would often bully drivers and impose exorbitant fines.
In accordance with the new instruction, VIO officers will concentrate on administrative tasks within their offices rather than operating on public highways.
The state’s other transportation regulating bodies were similarly instructed to carefully adhere to their legal obligations.
The state administration authorized a decrease in daily transit ticket prices as part of more extensive reforms in the transportation industry.
Commercial vehicle ticket prices were cut from ₦850 to ₦500 per day, and fines for not buying tickets were reduced to ₦10,000.
In order to avoid unlawful collecting, traffic-related fines were likewise lowered by 50% and must only be deposited into approved government accounts.
The daily ticket price was reduced from ₦1,200 to ₦500 for tricycle operators. New guidelines for tricycle operations were also introduced by the government.
Tricycle operators are no longer allowed to operate at night, and everyday operations are now anticipated to conclude by 6 p.m. Additionally, ticket purchases on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays would no longer be necessary for commercial bus and tricycle operators.
According to Governor Otu, the changes were made to ease the financial strain on operators and bring order back to the transportation industry.
He clarified that vehicle registration and authorized ticket sales will henceforth be the primary focus of the Commercial Transport Regulatory Agency.
Additionally, the governor instructed law enforcement officials to only wear appropriate uniforms and present identification that could be verified.
The Traffic Management and Regulatory Agency, on the other hand, was directed to confine its responsibilities to traffic management. On March 9, 2026, the new regulations will go into force.
Sunday Dennis, the Metropolitan Chairman of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria, added that the union would call an urgent meeting to examine the governor’s orders and evaluate how they would affect operators.
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