Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has extended the deadline for mandatory registration of commercial tricycles and buses to September 30, 2026.
The Governor said all commercial tricycle and bus operators in the state must register their vehicles and obtain identification numbers and QR codes before the new deadline.
He warned that unregistered vehicles will not be allowed to operate on the state’s roads after September 30. Governor Eno gave the directive during his routine inspection tour of ongoing projects across the state on Tuesday.
Projects inspected included the Victor Attah International Airport Hospital, Aviation Staff Quarters, Dakkada Luxury Estate, and the Compressed Natural Gas, CNG, Bus Terminal in Uyo.
He explained that the mandatory registration exercise is aimed primarily at strengthening security across the state. According to him, the measure will enable authorities to identify and track commercial transport operators conveying passengers.
The Governor said the deadline was extended following appeals from transport operators for more time to comply.He added that the extension should provide sufficient time for all affected operators to complete the process.
“Any tricycle or bus that is not registered, duly captured and given a QR code would not ply our roads,” Eno warned.
He said the policy had become necessary as the state approaches the festive season, which traditionally witnesses increased movement of people and heightened security concerns.
“We must step up our security and we must know who are these drivers carrying passengers. So if anything went wrong, we know how to track them,” the Governor said.
Governor Eno also inspected facilities being developed to support the operation of the state’s 50 new CNG buses. He explained that the CNG bus initiative goes beyond the provision of vehicles, noting that the state government is developing a terminal, workshop, training centre and other support infrastructure to ensure efficient operations.
According to him, the transport terminal is expected to become operational by November, ahead of the state’s Christmas Unplugged activities scheduled to commence on December 1, 2026, adding that contractors handling the projects are on course to meet the target.
The Governor described his routine project inspection as part of his hands-on management style, noting that it allows him to assess progress on-site and compare field realities with official reports.
He expressed satisfaction with the level of work at the Victor Attah International Airport Hospital, the Aviation Staff Quarters and the Dakkada Luxury Estate, stressing that the projects will boost healthcare, staff welfare and housing in the state.
Transport operators who spoke during the visit commended the extension, promising to mobilize their members to complete the registration before the new deadline to avoid sanctions.
