Cross River State Commissioner for Transportation, Hon. Kingsley Egumi, has warned traffic management and vehicle inspection officers against extortion, abuse of power and unprofessional conduct, insisting that road enforcement must be guided by integrity, fairness and the protection of human lives.
Egumi gave the warning in Calabar while flagging off the Ember Month Sensitisation Campaign organised by the Cross River State Traffic Management and Regulatory Agency (TRAMRA), at the Ministry of Works premises.
The campaign, themed “Repositioning for Excellence: Embracing Global Best Practices in Traffic Operations and Enforcement,” with the sub-theme “Stay Alive, Don’t Rush to the Grave,” is aimed at improving traffic operations, strengthening enforcement standards and promoting safer roads during the busy ember months.
The commissioner stressed that effective traffic management goes beyond controlling vehicles, explaining that it plays a vital role in protecting lives, maintaining public safety and supporting economic activities. He urged officers to adopt proactive measures that would reduce congestion, prevent avoidable accidents and improve the experience of road users.
On the restoration of Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIOs) to the roads, Egumi explained that the decision followed public complaints about unprofessional conduct and the need to restore order and accountability to vehicle inspection and roadworthiness enforcement.
He charged officers to discharge their duties transparently and fairly, while treating motorists and other road users with dignity. He added that the government would support lawful enforcement activities but would not condone practices that undermine public confidence in traffic management.
“The responsibility of traffic officers is to protect lives and ensure order on our roads. Extortion, intimidation and abuse of office will not be tolerated,” the commissioner warned, urging officers to see every vehicle as carrying people whose lives and safety must be respected.
Egumi also called for the adoption of modern traffic management approaches, including intelligent traffic systems, digital incident reporting and data-driven planning, noting that technology could help identify accident-prone areas, improve response times and enhance the overall efficiency of road operations.
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Public Relations Officer, representing the Sector Commander, Sup. Commander E. D. Ikpi, outlined five essential principles for effective traffic operations: professionalism and ethical conduct, sound knowledge of traffic regulations, proper appearance and use of uniforms, awareness of the operational environment, and courtesy, empathy and good conduct.
In his remarks, the Head of TRAMRA, Director of Road Traffic Services and Chief Vehicle Inspection Officer, Engr. Stanley Akam, expressed appreciation to Governor Bassey Edet Otu for his support for the agency. He said the two-day workshop was designed to retrain officers and prepare them for improved operations, with emphasis on professional standards, performance and public confidence.
Akam explained that the training would provide officers with the knowledge and practical guidance required to carry out their responsibilities more effectively, particularly during the ember months, when increased travel and commercial activities often place additional pressure on the roads.
Those present included the Deputy Director, VIO, Commander Patrick Edet; Dr. Gabriel Ukwada, former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Transportation and current Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Water Resources; Director of Revenue, Sir Francis Ntun; heads of TRAMRA departments; and VIO area commanders.
By Irene Bassey and Emmanuela Ogar
