By Cajetan Mmuta
Anambra state government on Monday announced the indefinite suspension of the collection of all forms of illegal fees by agents from the roadside and mobile hawkers as well as Commuters in parts of Awka and adjoining towns in the state.
Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Mr. C. Don Adinuba who announced this said government”s resolve to suspend the collection of the illegal fees and tolls was because they have been abused by those charged with such responsibilities.
It would be recalled that daily collection of tolls from hawkers in all the markets has pitched the agents against the hawkers because of multiple taxations by both known and unknown bodies with fake receipts.
Adinuba said, “Following a critical review of revenue collection in the state by the Executive Council, the Anambra State Government has decided to suspend certain forms of revenue collection which have been abused by certain groups.”
He listed the suspended tolls to include “Collection of daily tolls from hawkers in every street in Anambra State; Collection of daily tolls from mobile hawkers everywhere in the State; a collection of daily tolls from cart pushers”
Others include Collection of revenue on roads especially from moving vehicles, including the sale of emblems on any road in the State.”
The commissioner said, “The State Government has also made adjustments to the process collection of other revenues, stressing that, “Effective from 1st August 2021, daily Operations Permit for tricycles known as Keke has been reduced from N350 to N250 and N100 for commercial motorcycles popularly known as okada.”
According to the state government, “All tickets must be those approved by the Anambra State Internal Revenue Service (AIRS); which includes a collection of Daily Operational Permit for Tricycles (Keke) and Motorcycles (okada) and other commercial vehicles is hereby restricted to designated loading and offloading points within approved motor parks and other approved collection/drop off points.
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Also, collection of loading and offloading fees can now be collected at only the Point of Loading and the Point of Offloading within a market or motor park/loading bay using AIRS-approved tickets.
He explained that the collection of Produce/Commerce/Forestry goods fees is hereby restricted to the Control Post in front of the Metallurgical Training Institute on Owerri Road, Oba in Idemmili South Local Government Area, and the Control Post at Amansea, Awka North Local Government Area; as well as the Uga Junction in Onitsha.”
He added that the collection of daily toll from all commercial vehicles, including from the sale of government-approved emblems, will now be at only Government approved motor parks/loading bays in the State
