Cross River Govt bans VIO from roadside operations

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

Governor Bassey Otu announced the directive in Calabar after a meeting with transport stakeholders following protests by commercial drivers over alleged harassment and excessive penalties.

According to the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Linus Obogo, the decision was taken after complaints from bus and tricycle operators who accused enforcement teams of imposing inflated fines and intimidating motorists.

Under the new reforms, VIO officials will no longer operate on the roads. Their responsibilities will now focus on administrative duties, while other transport regulatory agencies must operate strictly within their legal mandates.

As part of the changes, the government approved a reduction in daily transport ticket fees from ₦850 to ₦500. The penalty for failure to purchase tickets has also been reduced to ₦10,000, while traffic-related fines have been cut by 50 percent.

For tricycle operators, the daily ticket fee has been reduced from ₦1,200 to ₦500. However, tricycle operators are now banned from night operations, with all activities expected to end by 6 p.m.

Commercial bus and tricycle operators will also be exempt from ticket payments on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays in a move aimed at easing financial pressure on drivers.

Governor Otu said the reforms are designed to restore order in the transport sector while reducing the burden on operators.

The directives will take effect from March 9, 2026.

Despite the announcement, some drivers say more clarity is needed, especially regarding the exact penalties for specific traffic offences.

The Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) has also announced plans to hold an emergency meeting to review the new directives.