Cross River Exempts Women, Elderly Commercial Drivers from Registration, Daily Levies

CALABAR — The Cross River State Government has exempted women engaged in commercial transportation and male commercial drivers aged 60 years and above from paying vehicle registration fees and daily operational levies.

Chairman of the Cross River Transport Regulatory Agency (CTRA), Chief Oliver Orok, announced the policy on Monday during a meeting with drivers’ unions in the Calabar metropolis and the Southern Senatorial District.

According to Orok, the initiative aligns with Governor Bassey Otu’s People First agenda and the administration’s Season of Sweetness programme aimed at improving the welfare of transport operators.

He explained that women operating commercial vehicles would no longer be required to pay vehicle registration fees or daily operational levies. Similarly, men aged 60 and above who own and personally operate commercial vehicles will also enjoy the exemption.

The CTRA chairman further disclosed that the state government had reduced transport ticket prices and temporarily suspended enforcement of some traffic-related offences to support commercial drivers and encourage business growth.

He added that the government would sustain its free transportation programme during festive periods while continuing to provide fuel support for commercial vehicle owners.

Orok, however, urged transport operators to maintain proper vehicle branding by using only the state’s approved colours and avoiding unauthorised stickers.

He also called on drivers to complete their registration and fulfil other statutory obligations, noting that a special enforcement exercise, in collaboration with security agencies, will commence on August 1 to ensure compliance.

According to him, the enforcement became necessary because some drivers and union officials had encouraged others to evade ticket payments, resulting in revenue losses and creating divisions within the transport unions.

He reiterated the agency’s commitment to implementing reforms that would improve the state’s public transportation system.

Meanwhile, the CTRA partnered with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) during the meeting to facilitate voter registration for commercial drivers.

Orok noted that many drivers are unable to visit INEC registration centres due to their work schedules, adding that plans are underway to establish voter registration points along major transport routes to improve access.