By Izunna Okafor, Awka
The lingering issue of multiple taxation and harassment by illegal revenue collectors in Anambra State may soon become a thing of the past, following recent intervention by the Anambra State House of Assembly in response to a petition by the Anambra Tricycle Riders Association (ANTRA).
Reports have it that for years, residents across the state — from tricycle and shuttle bus operators to shop owners and businesspersons — have continued to lament the unregulated activities of illegal revenue agents who parade themselves as government representatives. These agents often extort money under the guise of collecting levies, thereby creating financial strain, unrest, and insecurity across communities, especially in urban areas like Onitsha and others.
In line with Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s commitment to ending touting and streamlining revenue collection, the state government previously established a Special Anti-Touting Squad Anambra (SASA) and introduced various reforms to ensure all state-generated revenues are paid directly into government coffers.
Despite these measures, complaints persisted, leading ANTRA, the umbrella body for tricycle operators in Anambra, to recently petition the State House of Assembly.
In their petition, ANTRA decried the continued harassment and extortion by illegal revenue agents, some of whom claim affiliation with the government. They requested that the association be granted autonomy to manage its affairs and pay only the officially-approved levies as directed by Governor Soludo.
Responding to the petition, the House of Assembly, through its Committee on Public Petition, investigated the claims and adopted a resolution widely praised by ANTRA and other stakeholders.
The House’s resolution reaffirmed that the state government remains unequivocally opposed to all forms of touting. It declared that any person or group collecting fees in the name of the government without due authorization is operating illegally and should be resisted. The resolution further directed the Anti-Touting Squad to immediately clamp down on all identified illegal agents within the tricycle sector, particularly in Onitsha, including one individual popularly referred to as “Governor Obosi”.
The House also mandated the State Commissioner for Transport to issue a written authority empowering ANTRA to self-manage the collection of legitimate levies, dues, and rates from its members — on the condition that agreed sums are remitted directly to government accounts as specified by Governor Soludo’s policy.
Reacting to the development, Comrade Chidozie Okafor, Chairman of ANTRA, expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the State House of Assembly for responding to their plea and addressing the challenges confronting tricycle riders in the state. He described the resolution as a “rescue mission” for keke operators who have long suffered at the hands of impostors.
Comrade Okafor, who heaved a sigh of relief, also reiterated the association’s full support for the Soludo administration and urged all members of ANTRA to ensure timely payment of all government-approved fees. He noted that the proceeds from these payments are being visibly used in constructing roads and executing other vital infrastructure projects that benefit the masses.
Other reactors have also attested that this move by the Anambra State House of Assembly adds momentum to the current administration’s broader effort to sanitize the revenue system, eradicate touting, and build a conducive environment for commerce and transportation across the state.
