Maduako Igbokwe l Friday, September 23, 2022
AWKA, Nigeria – Commuters and other road users in Awka Anambra state and environs are frustrated and have lamented, following the withdrawal of tricycle and shuttle bus services in the state for the second day, due to governor Charles Soludo’s taxi regime.
The tricycle and shuttle bus operators withdrew from the roads on Thursday when the Anambra state Revenue Task Force on the payment of N15.000.00 and N25,000.00 tax started clamping down on operators who are yet to pay.
As result of the withdrawal of their service, members of the public were forced to trek long distances to their respective destinations.
Public Servants in Awka and those in the private businesses had to walk long distance to their offices and shops while the lucky ones got lifts from friends and public spirited individuals.
As at of 12noon some offices at the State Secretariat Awka were still not opened. The offices were almost empty as only a hand full of workers reported to work early.
Mrs Margret Nwokoye a staff with Ministry of Health lamented that she has not experienced such a thing before adding that if the protest continues next week she and her colleagues would not go to work again until the matter is resolved.
“What is going on here ? Most of us had to walk from Amawbia Flyover up to Kwata junction before we got a good man that took us to the Secretariat with his bus,”she said .
Andrew Chikwuelobe a trader at Amaenyi market, Awka narrated his ordeal in the hands of the protesters.
“I chattered a shuttle bus to carry my goods and midway after the Eke Awka main market they stopped the shuttle bus and forced him to off load my goods and I begged them to consider my fragile goods but they refused”.
“So I had to off load and remained there for over two hours before I got my colleague at the market who came with his car and helped me” he said.
Speaking with the protesters contended that the payment of N15.000.00 and N25.000.00 monthly in bulk is too much for them to carry, stating that if the payment can be staggered and to be paid twice or three a month it would have been better.
“We did not say we are not paying tax but the amount is too much for us and you have to consider that most of these tricycles were bought on hire purchase and we are still paying for them .
“Now if they say three times a month we can consider the payment but not even if your vehicle is on the road or not you must pay. I tell you this protest may continue till next week until government understands our plight; he said. Mr Alloy Ede, a businessman describe the state government’s tax policy as ‘insensitive’.
“The state government need to be sensitive because the economy is not favourable to anyone. Everybody is struggling to feed his family and not to feed government with high taxation.
“The state government should call these operators to a round table and understand their grievances so as to arrive at a favourable tax policy,” he said.
Mrs Nnenna Okafor, a trader, urged government to intervene immediately before the protest would degenerate to insecurity.
“This protest started since yesterday when government sent out taskforce to enforce the tax policy. People have been scared due to the violent activities of the Keke operators. Government should intervene before the protest will get out of hand and degenerate to insecurity,” she said.
Another resident, Mr George Eboh, a retiree civil servant, said the development was causing untold hardship on residents.
“I have been trekking from Okpuno and I am still going to Government House on Awka-Enugu Expressway. This is causing unbearable pains and discomfort for commuters. The state government should sort out whatever issues they have with the tricycle and shuttle bus operators. The poor masses are the ones suffering,” he said.
