The Cross River State Ministry of Transportation has inaugurated a high-powered committee to verify and authenticate the registration documents of all transport associations and trade unions operating in the state.
The committee was inaugurated by the Commissioner for Transportation, Hon. Pastor Ekpenyong Cobham, during a brief ceremony held at his office in Calabar.
Designed to carry out a comprehensive forensic audit of the transport subsector, the committee comprises seasoned technocrats and legal experts tasked with restoring order and accountability within the system.
Members of the committee include the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Gabriel Ogbaji Ukwada; the Executive Secretary of the Cross River State Traffic Regulation Agency (CTRA), Barr. Roseline Inameti; the Director of Administration, Traffic Management and Revenue Agency (TRAMRA), Mr. Ogu James Ogu; and the Director of Procurement in the Ministry, Mr. Paul Ushie.
Speaking at the inauguration, Pastor Cobham stressed the urgency of the exercise, noting that the transport subsector had become flooded with entities operating outside the law.
“It is necessary to set up this committee because there are associations and unions within the transport subsector that are outrightly illegal. Some are legitimate in existence, but their operations fall outside the scope for which they were established,” he said.
He charged the committee to thoroughly assess the constitutions of all associations and unions to determine their authenticity and compliance with regulatory frameworks.
The committee is also mandated to request and scrutinize registration documents authorizing their operations, including approvals to collect dues and issue tickets on roads and in motor parks.
In addition, it is to examine government authorizations that confer legitimacy or operational superiority on any association, investigate the causes of persistent conflicts among unions, and recommend practical solutions to ensure peaceful coexistence.
The Commissioner further directed the committee to identify and recommend the proscription of any illegitimate entity or unlawful practice, as well as address any other issues in the interest of government and the public.
He emphasized the need for the Ministry to maintain an updated database of all transport associations and unions, noting that the audit would help distinguish genuine operators from those acting without legal backing.
According to him, the exercise is part of government efforts to eliminate illegal levies, reduce conflicts, and sanitize the transport sector for improved service delivery.
In a demonstration of commitment, members of the committee took an oath of office, pledging to uphold the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and to carry out their assignment with integrity, transparency, and accountability.
The committee is expected to commence work immediately and submit its report within two weeks. Stakeholders across the transport sector have been urged to cooperate fully by providing the necessary documentation for verification.
Irene Bassey
