Cross River State Governor, Senator Bassey Edet Otu, has approved the exemption of female commercial drivers and male commercial vehicle owners aged 60 years and above from the payment of vehicle registration fees and daily operational levies as part of measures to ease the financial burden on transport operators across the state.
Chairman of the Cross River Transport Regulatory Agency (CTRA), Hon. Oliver Orok, announced the policy on Saturday during a stakeholders’ meeting with the Drivers’ Union covering Calabar Metropolis and the Southern Senatorial District.
Orok described the initiative as a reflection of Governor Otu’s People First agenda and the administration’s Season of Sweetness, noting that the government remains committed to implementing policies that improve the welfare of transport operators and create an enabling environment for their businesses.
According to him, female commercial drivers are now completely exempt from paying vehicle registration fees and daily operational levies.
“Women who are into this driving business will not pay for the registration of their vehicles and will not pay daily operational levies. The operation is free for them,” he said.
He added that male commercial drivers aged 60 years and above who own and operate their vehicles would equally enjoy the exemption.
“Men above 60 years of age who own their vehicles and wish to drive are also exempted. They don’t pay registration and they don’t pay daily tools,” Orok stated.
The CTRA chairman further disclosed that the state government had reduced transport ticket charges to a minimal amount and temporarily suspended enforcement of some traffic-related offences to promote the free flow of business for commercial transport operators.
He also revealed that Governor Otu’s administration would sustain its free transport programme during festive periods and provide fuel support to commercial vehicle owners to cushion operational costs and stimulate their businesses.
Speaking on regulatory compliance, Orok decried the use of unauthorised vehicle colours and stickers by some operators, urging drivers to retain the state’s approved transport colour scheme while ensuring full registration and payment of all applicable statutory levies.
To strengthen compliance, he announced that the agency would commence a special enforcement exercise from August 1 in collaboration with security agencies.
According to him, the exercise became necessary following reports that some drivers and union officials were encouraging operators to evade payment of approved tickets, thereby depriving the government of revenue and creating disunity within the transport unions.
“When those who pay notice that others are not paying and are being covered, they also refuse to pay. This enforcement is to ensure fairness and protect government revenue,” Orok said.
He further disclosed that the agency would soon embark on a statewide revalidation of all commercial vehicles with security-coded identification numbers to enhance regulation, improve security and strengthen the identification of commercial transport operators across the state.
In a move to deepen civic participation, the CTRA partnered with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) during the meeting to facilitate the registration of commercial drivers for Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).
Orok explained that the initiative became necessary because many commercial drivers rarely have the time to visit INEC registration centres due to the demands of their work, adding that plans were underway to establish voter registration points along major transport corridors.
He commended Governor Otu, the First Lady, Bishop Eyoanwan Bassey Otu, and the Leader of Calabar South, Hon. Dr. Emmanuel Ironbar, for their support and the opportunity to serve, reaffirming the agency’s commitment to implementing reforms that will improve public transportation, strengthen regulatory compliance and enhance the welfare of transport operators across Cross River State.
By Kingsley Agim
