Cattle Dealers Give FG Ultimatum to End Illegal Levies, Harassment

* Decry 140 checkpoints in 35 locations nationwide

Cattle and food stuff dealers operating under the auspices of
the Amalgamated Union of Foodstuff and Cattle Dealers have
threatened to embark on a nationwide strike, if nothing is done
within two months to stop multiple taxes and harassment of their
members by security agencies.

President of the union, Alhaji Mohammed Ibrahim, told reporters
yesterday in Abuja that his members had to contend with over 30
military checkpoints, 110 police checkpoints, as well as
checkpoints by other security agencies in 35 locations.

He also alleged harassment of the members of the union all over
the country by illegal gangs.
According to Ibrahim, the mode of operation of the gangs is to
disguise as private contractors collecting revenues for some states
and local governments.

“Their habit is to mount roadblocks in the night and demand for
taxes and levies from our members under severe duress. The
presentation of receipts of taxes and levies paid at the point of
embarkation is ignored,” he added.

Ibrahim said the union had written to the Inspector General of
Police, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Director General of
the Department of State Services (DSS), and the governors about
their plight over multiple taxation and harassment on the
highway.

“We are giving government two months and if nothing was done we
are going to withdraw supply of cattle from the market,” he
said.
Ibrahim said the union had made representations in the past to the
Minister of Agriculture; Minister of Labour and Employment;
leadership of the official security organisations of the country,
including the police and the military, but nothing was done about
the complaints.

“We wish to also reach out to the Nigerian and world public
through the media. Our pleas are that everyone should prevail on
all lawful authorities in our country to end the illegal levies,
multiple taxation, endemic harassment and offensive extortion of
members of the union.

“All the extra cost of procuring foodstuff and cattle,
transporting and settling touts from the points of production and
primary market on the way to the urban areas of need is
consequently passed on to the final consumers. In other words, the
extra cost of foodstuff and cattle in our country has a direct
connection with the illegal levies and multiple taxes extorted from
our members,” he explained.

Ibrahim said the extortion of members of his union had a
negative effect on the prices of foodstuff and beef.
“For the purpose of illustration, the multiple taxes regime adds
over 100 per cent cost on the ordinary prices of the foodstuff and
cattle. The multiple taxations for a truckload of cattle often
amount to about N450,000, which is higher than the transportation
cost of N330,000.

“Similarly, the illegitimate charges on a truckload of foodstuff
are about N226,000, ” he said.
Ibrahim listed the states where touts collect illegal taxes and
levies to include, Benue, Plateau, Nasarawa, Kogi, Taraba, Enugu,
Anambra, Imo, Abia, Ebonyi, and Cross Rivers.

He also listed the towns where the touts operate to include,
Jootar; Kyado; Zaki-Biam; Ugba/Zaki-Biam Road; Bridgehead
Katsina-Ala; Tyogbema; Vandekiya; Achoho; Naka; Aliede;
Ogobia-Oturkpo; North Bank Makurdi; Ade-lgwu Ogbadibo Riyo Toto;
Gunduma; Akwanga.

Others are Lokoja; Otukpa Junction Jimlari; Gidam ldi; Wukari by
the Federal University; Suntai; Murarraban Baisa; Takum Entry;
Takum Exit; Ga’akenm; Ogoja; Umba; Ikom; Umbok; Yahe Town;
Obollo-Afor; Abakaliki Expressway, Bridgehead Onitsha; Ozubulu;
Ugwoba Awka, Njaba; Okpuala; Awomama Owerri, Umuoka Junction;
Lukpanta, Enugu/Abakaliki Expressway, and Cross
River/Onu-Ebonyi.