By Tony Adibe
The Enugu State Government said it has viewed with utmost displeasure the activities of those who “constitute nuisance on our roads” and deploy all manner of crude tactics to extort monies from vehicles transporting goods, farm produce and livestock in the state, in the name of collection of levies and tolls on behalf of government.
A statement issued on Monday by the Secretary to the Enugu State Government (SSG), Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, noted that such “anti-business activities of syndicates operating on our highways and roads are contrary to the current government’s determination to dismantle obstacles to the ease of doing business in the state.”
Prof. Onyia said: “Government is also taking steps to eliminate multiple and illegal taxation in the state, including collection of taxes and revenues by individuals via cash payments, manual issuance of receipts, and paper tickets. Government is convinced that tax and revenue collection must be convenient and friendly via technology while addressing leakages.
“In view of the foregoing, the Enugu State Government hereby bans the collection of levies and tolls along highways and roads in the state by individuals or groups of individuals purportedly acting on behalf of government. They have been, by this announcement, put on notice to quit all highways and roads within the state as failure to comply will attract severe consequences.
“The ban takes effect immediately. A taskforce has been constituted to enforce the ban.
“Henceforth, anyone caught in the illegal act shall be prosecuted.”
Prof. Onyia explained that the current administration of Governor Peter Mbah should not pay lip service to its stated commitment to “expand the Enugu economy sevenfold by promoting economic activities, enabling private sector investments, offering incentives to boost the productive sectors such as agricultural and agro-allied activities in the state.”
He said that those willing to engage in lawful economic and business activities in Enugu state should be encouraged to do so as they are beneficial to the state.
