High tariff: Commercial drivers, loaders, threaten to fight Anambra revenue collectors

By Chukwudum Ebele

Sequel to the high tariff imposed by the Anambra State Government on commercial drivers overloading and offloading of wares, inter-state commercial divers who ply to and from Anambra State, and loaders of wares, Friday, reportedly downed tools over the high tariff, vowing to fight the revenue collectors if they continued to demand the tariff.

Fielding questions from this reporter Friday at a private motor park within Onitsha’s main market axis, the spokesman of the drivers, Chief Patrick Okeke, disclosed that sacked touts who are non-drivers were given permits to collect revenue from drivers from both private and public markets and motor parts, disregarding Private/Government Partnership in revenue collection.

“I am a truck/heavy duty driver and we carry goods to and from Anambra State to other states. How can Anambra State Government impose high tariffs on us without our consent. That is why on Friday, we downed tools, and others downed tools early this week but today we follow suit, even those who load and offload goods were not left out as they are also levied for their services and so they joined us in the strike.

“Private market/park is managed by the owner, so long he pays the agreed amount to the government. That is the Public Private Partnership. Touts coming to manage markets will cause crises in the markets. That those given the permits to collect revenue paid exorbitant amounts to the government will not warrant the traders and drivers to be taxed heavily.

“Our members who are carrying goods from other states to Anambra now divert to Asaba, Delta State and Aba, Abia State, because of the high tariff imposed on us by Anambra State Government. Funny enough, those given the permits to collect levy from us are touts, we know them. We will fight them if they continue to demand money from us again.

“It is these touts that deny peace being restored in the markets, parks and roads. Soon Government will start hearing of drivers being beaten up by the revenue collectors because they are the same touts sacked by the government. I wonder if the Government doesn’t know that these people are interested in their private pockets,” he stated.

On the alleged arrest of some market leaders by the DSS personnel while in a meeting with the government on the same high tariff, to find a solution, he said that whoever may have advised the arrest of the market leaders did not want the progress of Anambra State.

“Whoever suggested the arrest of the market leaders does not bear the interest of the traders and Anambra State at heart. It was bad advice, I heard the traders are threatening to protest the arrest,” he posited.