Akwa Ibom Earns Millions Weekly Through E-Ticketing
Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. The state’s transport sector is now generating ₦14 million every week through the sale of daily electronic tickets to commercial drivers in Uyo, the state capital, boosting the government’s internally generated revenue (IGR).
The Commissioner for Transportation, Dr Anthony Luke, disclosed the information while speaking to journalists in Uyo. He described the achievement as a notable success of Governor Umo Bassey Eno during his first three years in office.
How the System Works
According to the Commissioner, his ministry has sold 100,946 tickets to tricycle (keke) and minibus operators, priced at ₦200 and ₦300 per day.
“We now record ₦2 million daily and ₦14 million weekly,” Dr Luke said. “We have recruited 143 enforcers to sell tickets to transport operators. The money goes straight into government coffers under the Single Treasury Account, which increases Akwa Ibom’s IGR every day.”
A 109 Per Cent Rise in IGR
Dr Luke said e-ticketing has also exposed daily operators who fail to comply with the payment directive.
“The Ministry of Transport has recorded this success through e-ticketing, as minibus and Keke operators now pay for their tickets electronically,” he said. “This allows the government to collect revenue directly from e-ticket sales, and it has improved the state’s IGR by 109 per cent. Since we introduced e-ticketing, revenue has steadily increased.”
A Collaborative Effort
The Commissioner explained that the programme’s success resulted from collaboration with the Ministry of Science and Digital Economy, led by Ekpenyong Udo Ekpenyong. He thanked the ministry for its technical support and other assistance.
Cameras to Boost Compliance and Security
Speaking separately, the Commissioner for Science and Digital Economy said the state government has installed cameras across Uyo to monitor the activities of tricycle and minibus operators, both to ensure compliance and to improve security for residents.
“With cameras installed around the city, no Keke operator can evade paying for a ticket, and it will be difficult to use a tricycle to commit a crime,” he said. “The camera will trace the rider, and the security details posted on the tricycle will give security agencies the information they need to track down culprits. Governor Umo Eno’s ARISE Agenda has made such a measure unprecedented in the history of Akwa Ibom.”
