Cross River: CTRA reduces traffic offences from 35 to four

Commercial Transport Regulatory Agency (CTRA) in Cross River, has reduced traffic offences from 35 to four, a move aimed at easing the cost of doing transport business and reducing harassment of drivers.

The Chairman of CTRA, Mr Efa Nyong, announced the reform on Tuesday in Calabar while outlining the agency’s plans for the transport sector in 2026.

Nyong said the decision was informed by prevailing economic realities facing commercial drivers and transport operators across the state.

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Under the new regime, the only enforceable offences are refusal to register a vehicle, refusal to purchase daily operational toll tickets, overloading, and failure to use seat belts. All other offences, including broken windscreens, have been scrapped.

He said the agency would largely retain existing policies but introduce reforms focused on driver welfare and ease of doing business.

As part of the welfare measures, drivers aged 60 years and above will now be registered free of charge and exempted from operational levies, while female commercial drivers will also enjoy free registration and operate without paying regulatory fees.

On penalties, Nyong said fines for any of the four offences range from ₦5,000 to ₦10,000, as stipulated on the official enforcement chart.

He also disclosed that CTRA is finalising an insurance scheme to support families of registered drivers in the event of death, noting that an agreement with Leadway Insurance would soon be signed to cover duly registered drivers operating within the state.

Responding to complaints of enforcement abuse, Nyong acknowledged concerns over alleged high-handedness by some taskforce members but assured that flexibility exists for drivers genuinely unable to pay fines.

Some commercial drivers in the state had earlier accused CTRA taskforce teams of illegal demands and excessive enforcement practices.