By Richard Benjamin
The Cross River Government has exempted women engaged in commercial driving and male commercial vehicle owners aged 60 and above from paying vehicle registration fees and daily operational levies.
The Chairman of the Cross River Transport Regulatory Agency (CTRA), Chief Oliver Orok, announced the policy on Monday, July 20, at a meeting with drivers’ unions in Calabar and the southern senatorial district.
Orok said the initiative was part of Gov. Bassey Otu’s “People First” agenda and the administration’s “Season of Sweetness” programme for transporters. “Women who are into this driving business will not pay for registration of their vehicle and will not pay daily operational levies.
The operation is free for them. “Men above 60 years of age, who own their vehicle and wish to drive commercially, are also exempted. They won’t pay registration or daily levies,” he said.
The CTRA chairman also said the government had reduced ticket prices to a minimal amount and suspended enforcement of some road offences to allow commercial drivers to operate more freely.
He added that the state government would continue providing free transport services during festive periods and fuel support for vehicle owners to boost their businesses.
On compliance, Orok decried improper vehicle painting and the use of unauthorised stickers, urging drivers to retain the state’s official colours for uniformity.
He also called on drivers to complete their registration and pay all required levies. Orok announced that the CTRA would commence special enforcement from Aug. 1 in collaboration with security agencies to ensure compliance.
He said the exercise was necessary because some drivers and union officials encouraged others not to pay tickets, resulting in revenue losses and division within the union. “When those who pay notice others are not paying and are being covered, they also refuse to pay.
This enforcement is to ensure fairness and protect government revenue,” he said. Orok reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to regulatory reforms aimed at improving public transportation in the state.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the CTRA invited the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to the meeting to register drivers for voter cards as part of efforts to increase civic participation.
Orok said many commercial drivers lacked the time to visit ward offices, adding that plans were underway to establish registration points along major routes.
