By Ita Williams, Calabar
Cross River state government has temporary suspended all taxation and enforcement activities affecting mini-bus drivers in the state.
The commercial bus drivers in the state had on Thursday, February 26 embarked on a peaceful protest against what they described as excessive levies and multiple taxation by various government agencies blocking key roads in Calabar.
The protest, which began as early as 7 a.m., affected Calabar Road, Stadium, Barracks Road, parts of Moore Road, and the ever-busy Watt Market axis, leaving commuters stranded and businesses temporarily shut.
The aggrieved drivers, estimated to be more than 2,000, said the demonstration was prompted by five major concerns relating to what they termed harassment and extortion by various task forces operating within the metropolis.
One of the protesting drivers, Mr. Effiong Kingsley, lamented the financial burden placed on operators saying, “rhere are too many task forces on the roads. We pay more than N70,000 fines daily to different groups, apart from the approved N700 ticket, which was arbitrarily increased, making it nearly impossible for drivers to sustain their businesses”, he alleged.
Another driver, Mr. Ene Effiong Okon, criticized the presence of multiple enforcement bodies saying, “what we are saying is simple. We don’t need DOPT, 100 Marian, VIO, TRAMA, and several other task forces. Many of them have no clear functions; they are only on the roads to extort money from drivers,” he said.
Mr. Blessed Etuk also recounted what he described as an unpleasant encounter with an unidentified official.
“It started when a young man, who could not even identify himself as belonging to any task force, nearly fought me and ordered my passengers to disembark without any offence committed,” he claimed.
He further alleged that drivers are fined between N60,000 and N100,000 for what authorities describe as “wrong parking,” even when dropping passengers briefly.
The drivers also accused ticketing officials of extending collection hours beyond stipulated periods, he said adding, “tickets collection is supposed to be between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. on working days, but now it has been extended to weekends. Enough is enough”.
The drivers pleaded for the state government intervention so as to streamline enforcement agencies to not more than one or two bodies to curb what they termed widespread exploitation.
In a swift intervention, the Special Adviser to Governor Bassey Otu on General Duties, Barr. Ekpenyong Akiba, addressed journalists at the protest ground and announced a temporary suspension of all taxation and enforcement activities linked to the complaints, pending further discussions.
Akiba stated that “the government will invite five representatives from each protest point for dialogue with relevant authorities.
“We have invited representatives of the drivers for discussions. His Excellency is committed to ensuring that Cross River people are not exploited,” he assured.
Meanwhile, the Member representing Calabar Municipality in the Cross River State House of Assembly, Mr. Stanley Nsemo, condemned multiple taxation, noting that it ultimately increases transport fares and burdens on residents of the state.
“These drivers are essential to the state’s economy. When they are extorted, the ordinary masses bear the brunt,” he said.
