… Accuse Anti-Tout of Molestations
BY RAYMOND OZOJI, Awka
Tipper Drivers have drawn the attention of Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo to the multiple N5000 unreceipted Inter-State cash revenues imposed on them by the Anambra State Internal Revenue Service (AIRS) at Head Bridge, Onitsha.
The said N5000 inter-state unreceipted cash collections from Tipper Drivers by AIRS officials at the Onitsha Bridge Head, incessant molestations of Tipper Drivers by the State Anti-Touting Squad, multiple taxations by hoodlums christened government revenue officials, lifting of ban on sand mining, covering of sand on transit and some other pressing issues were the crux of the matter at the enlarged meeting of the Tipper Drivers held at Promise Land Tipper Garage Nkwelle-Ezunaka Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State on Thursday.
The Tipper Drivers bemoaned the fact that the state government had banned them from operations in their various locations across the state due to the activities of sand miners, yet, still if they go to Asaba in Delta State to obtain sand after necessary documentations and payments, officials of the AIRS still accost them at the Bridge Head Onitsha, only to compel each Tipper Driver to pay N5000 cash on the spot without receipts being issued.
According to them, any attempt to resist paying the N5000 unreceipted cash which the AIRS officials tagged Inter-State Revenue, the Anti-tout squad and other security agents are unleashed on them and their tippers impounded in spite of the rigors of going to another state to obtain sand following ban on such operations in Anambra State.
Speaking shortly after the meeting, the Tipper Drivers commended the efforts of the Operation Clean and Healthy Anambra (OCHA BRIGADE) in their efforts to rid the entire state all forms of environmental degradations.
President of the Anambra State Tipper Association prince Nze Augustine Akaigwe said the essence of the meeting was to inaugurate Onitsha Zone of the Tipper association in the state. He stated that the association has Awka, Omambala and Orumba zones respectively.
Akaigwe, who stated that some of the challenges confronting tipper owners and drivers in the state include closure of sand beaches, appealed that sand miners and government should have an understanding so that the beaches can be opened for Tipper Drivers to resume operations as stoppage of their businesses is grossly affecting their families.
Meanwhile Chairman of the Onitsha zone of Tipper Drivers and member of Board of Trustees of Anambra State Tipper Association, Comrade Chukwuebuka Unekwe, said the meeting was convened not only to inaugurate Onitsha zone but also to thank Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo so immensely for his giant developmental strides in the state especially as it concerns Tipper Drivers, adding that the Governor’s Operation Zero Potholes has indeed ameliorated the sufferings of drivers plying the roads because their Tippers no longer contend with potholes.
Another problematic issue Unekwe raised was the issue of touts collecting N5000 from each Tipper conveying sand from another state into Anambra. He alleged that the touts were backed by the Anti-tout squad to ensure compliance to the unreceipted Inter-State cash revenues, he said, the governor may not be aware of.
He, however, commended the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of OCHA BRIGADE for his constant timely response to their calls whenever the need arise, as his agency has indeed helped tremendously to prevent touts from exploiting Tipper Drivers with unnecessary multiple taxations.
Also Mr. Francis Orjiakor who is the Unit Chairman of Abatete Tipper Drivers said they are facing hard times because, even if one goes to Asaba and bring sand into Anambra, some persons will confront you at the Head Bridge Onitsha and insist you must pay them N5000 cash as inter-state tax without receipts. He said for every trip, they are forced to pay N5000 inter-state levy.
Uga Ifeanyichukwu, known as Consider, in the Nsugbe Unit of Tipper Drivers of Onitsha zone, said often times, the Anti-tout squad are being unleashed on them. He said sometimes, their Tippers would be confiscated for 21 days and they bail each Tipper with N500,000.
Uga further disclosed that if a driver is arrested by the Anti-tout, the driver will bail himself with the sum of N150,000 and that if there is another occupant in the vehicle, he bails himself too with the sum of N100,000 in spite of the fact that they all pay their daily taxes as single Tippers pay N700 while double Tippers pay N1,400 only.
Udenwa Ezekwesili, who is the Vice President of Great Tipper Drivers Association, Anambra State, said the state government banned sand mining in the state and alternatively Tipper Drivers are going to Asaba to buy sand and after buying the sand, in Anambra State where it is highly prohibited, some revenue officials still stop them at the Head Bridge Onitsha to collect from N5000 and above as inter-state tax without receipts.
Mr. Henry Chukwuma of the Awka zone Tipper Drivers said the major problem Tipper Drivers are facing currently is the closure of all the beaches in the state which he said is grossly affecting their business. He was of the opinion that if sand miners didn’t dredge, Tipper Drivers wouldn’t find sand to buy.
Mr. Chukwuma who urged sand miners to abide by the laws of Anambra State especially as it concerns sand mining, noted that all should support state government to enable it provide solutions to the myriad of problems plaguing the state.
Another member of the association who identified himself as Sunday Ogidi noted that they have not been paying inter-state levy but recently the AIRS unleashed the Anti-tout squad on them and other miscreants at the Head Bridge Onitsha to compel them to pay N5000 cash on each trip from Asaba Delta State where they purchased sand.
Ogidi said the governor may not be aware of their predicaments but urged him to intervene and rescue them from unwarranted and unnecessary multiple taxations imposed on them by touts parading as government revenue officials.
Again Sunday Okorie, chairman of Tipper Drivers at Nkwelle-Ezunaka Junction, said the menace of government officials was becoming unbearable for them. He said if they go to buy sand where RCC and other construction companies come to buy, they would be chased away by operatives of government agencies while RCC and others would be allowed to get sand.
Okorie complained that his Tipper was confiscated by agents of government and he paid N200,000 to bail his vehicle and paid N150,000 to set himself free from the captivity of government agents whom he said only unleash terror and mayhem on Tipper Drivers but allow big names like RCC construction company and others to go scot-free after collecting sand from the same location.
According to him, the Anti-tout squad working with revenue agents at the Bridge Head Onitsha insist that Tipper Drivers must pay N5000 on each trip of sand they brought into Anambra from Delta State. That failure to comply with them meant that they would destroy their tyres and their Tippers leaving them stranded.
Chairman of the Promise Land Tipper Drivers at Ogbunike Mr. Theophilus Chukwujekwu Attah who said he has been a Tipper Driver for more than 40 years, noted that they were being victimized by government officials because they patronised sand miners. Attah emphasized that despite the fact that they pay N2,500 IGR without receipts for every trip of sand, yet government still clamped down on their businesses due to closure of the beaches.
Chairman of the 10-tyre unit of the Onitsha branch of Tipper association Mr. Nonso Okeruo, said he is totally against the inter-state tax imposed on Tippers by government officials. He corroborated the fact that for every trip from Asaba into Anambra, Tipper Drivers paid N5000 to government revenue officials at the ” Welcome To Anambra” Niger Bridge Onitsha and according to him, no receipts are given, adding that the Anti-tout squad is another malignant force Tipper Drivers have to contend with on daily basis.
He said that the Anti-tout squad seized his Tipper for no clear-cut reason and they compelled him to pay N180,000 before his Tipper would be released to him but after much arguments, he paid N120,000 cash to bail his Tipper from the Anti-tout operatives even though he was not issued receipts for the payment.
The Tipper Drivers however resolved in one accord to embark on “Operation Go and Buy Tapolin” to ensure members covered products on transit properly to avoid littering the environment with such products while on transit.
Another exercise they would commence is “Operation Go Back To Your Unions” to also ensure that members paid their dues and levies to advance their welfare and wellbeing.
