By Kelvin Obambon
The Cross River State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has expressed deep concern over the flagrant violation of government policies by transport regulatory bodies, accusing them of defying direct orders from the state governor, Prince Bassey Edet Otu.
The Union raised the alarm in a communiqué issued at the end of its congress held on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, at the Ernest Etim Bassey Press Centre in Calabar. The meeting was presided over by the Council Chairman, Comrade Archibong Bassey.
The fourth estate of the realm strongly criticized the operations of the Cross River State Traffic Management and Regulatory Agency (TRAMRA) and the Calabar Traffic Regulatory Authority (CTRA).
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According to the communiqué, officials and agents of both agencies have allegedly continued to harass motorists and transport operators under the guise of generating revenue. The NUJ noted that this aggressive enforcement directly contradicts the explicit directives of the State Governor.
The union recalled that the state government had previously ordered the agencies to limit their operations strictly to traffic control, regulation, and the maintenance of order on the roads, rather than acting as aggressive revenue-collection channels.
“Congress therefore called on the relevant authorities to investigate the activities of the agencies and ensure strict compliance with the Governor’s directive in the interest of transparency, accountability, and public confidence,” the communiqué reads.
Beyond transport sector excesses, the Union also deliberated on several critical issues affecting the state’s infrastructure and environment. It commended the state government for its ongoing urban renewal programme, highlighting the rehabilitation of Azikiwe and Ewa Henshaw Streets in Calabar South, roads which had been neglected for years by previous administrations.
The journalists however appealed to Governor Otu to fulfill his commitment to the Ikom–Wula–Obudu Highway by ordering immediate remedial work, warning that the deteriorating road conditions pose severe dangers to commuters and stifle local economic activities and agricultural transport.
In light of recent environmental challenges, the Ministry of Environment was urged to promptly clear fallen trees blocking roads and to conduct a comprehensive safety assessment of aging trees within the Calabar metropolis.
The Union raised concerns over the continued operation of the “iron condemn” (scrap metal) business in areas like Satellite Town, despite an active government ban, and called for stricter enforcement.
