Agric produce:Association urges FG to ban collection of illegal, multiple tolls

Produce
By Idowu Ariwodola
Ado Ekiti, May 15, 2019 (NAN) The Nigeria Association of Agricultural Produce Dealers has called on the Federal Government to ban collection of illegal and multiple taxes on agricultural and agro-allied products on the nation’s highways.

The South West Zonal Chairman of the association, Adeyinka Bakare, made the call in Ado Ekiti on Wednesday at an interactive session between the association and stakeholders in the agriculture sector.

According to Bakare, the daily activities of hoodlums and touts, who are in the habit of blocking highways to extort money from vehicles conveying farm products and livestock, was becoming worrisome.

“The current high cost of many farm produce across the country is caused by the illegal activities of these hoodlums.

“They hide under the false pretext of being local government tax collectors. Something drastic must be done to checkmate them.

“It is so bad that those perpetrating the act are usually in the habit of breaking the windscreens of arrested vehicle and beating up the driver, once he fails to part with the money requested,’’ he said.

Bakare expressed fear that the ultimate effect of the practice would be hike in cost of the items when they ultimately get to their final destination.

This, he said, would be in an attempt to make up for the illegal tolls collected.

Also speaking while declaring open the meeting, the state Commissioner for Local Government and Rural Development, Prof. Adio Folayan, said one of the leading policy thrusts of the present administration was agricultural development.

He added that the government would not condone anything that would scare its partners in the sector.

The commissioner, who confirmed that illegal collection of taxes does occur in the state just like in other parts of the country, said there had been complaints by victims.

Folayan noted that though the state depended majorly on taxes and levies as a critical means of revenue generation, government was, however, mindful of the need to regulate the pattern and collection of such taxes.

He added that government did not wish to jeopardise or frustrate those engaged in the sector.

Earlier in an address of welcome, the Ekiti Chairman of the association, Peter Bamigbade, said the association was ready to partner with the local councils in the state to address the menace of illegal toll collection on food and agro-items on the highways. (NAN)
ARIS/COF/OJO
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(Edited by Oluyinka Fadare/Mufutau Ojo)