To ease the economic burden on residents and commercial transport operators, Cross River State Governor, Bassey Edet Otu, has announced sweeping reforms for the state’s transport sector.

The governor’s intervention follows growing concerns raised by commercial drivers and residents across Calabar metropolis regarding high ticket costs, aggressive fines, and unprofessional enforcement practices.

This led to peaceful protests and blocking of major roads by mini bus drivers and tricycle riders, popularly known as Keke operators, in the metropolis for several hours before government’s intervention.

At the heart of the new policy is a significant reduction in daily operational tickets. Starting from today, March 9, 2026, daily tickets for commercial buses will drop from N850 to N500. Similarly, tricycle (Keke) riders, who previously paid N1,200, will now pay N500 per day.

Otu also announced a 50 per cent reduction in all traffic-related fines. However, to maintain discipline, the penalty for failing to purchase a daily ticket has been adjusted to N10,000.

“I have approved measures aimed at easing the burden on our hardworking drivers while restoring order, fairness, and transparency in the transport system,” Otu stated, following a meeting with key stakeholders.

However, in a gesture labelled as part of his administration’s “Season of Sweetness,” the governor announced that mini-bus drivers and tricycle riders would be entirely exempted from purchasing tickets on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays.

Despite these concessions, the governor maintained a firm stance on security, noting that tricycle operations remain prohibited after 6:00 p.m.

The new directives also aimed to curb harassment on the streets by redefining the roles of various regulatory bodies.

Meanwhile, the governor, who announced the reforms via his official Facebook handle at the weekend, said that the Commercial Transport Regulatory Agency (CTRA) would henceforth focus strictly on vehicle registration and ticket sales at approved rates, while the Traffic Management and Regulatory Agency (TRAMRA) will confine its operations to statutory traffic management. The Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO) operations, according to Otu, “are now restricted strictly to their official office premises.”

Also to ensure accountability, the governor emphasised that enforcement officers must now appear in proper uniforms and carry verifiable identification.

“Enforcement officers are now required to operate strictly in proper uniforms and carry verifiable identification to ensure accountability and professionalism in their duties,” the governor added.

He, therefore, urged all stakeholders and the public to comply with the new guidelines to foster a fair and orderly environment.

“I urge all operators and the public to cooperate fully with the relevant agencies as we continue to build a transport system that is fair, orderly, and beneficial to everyone,” he concluded.

The new measures took full effect across the state yesterday, Monday, March 9, 2026.

Some of the mini bus drivers and Keke operators, who spoke on the development, described the reforms as excellent as they can now operate in a peaceful and conducive environment.