By Daniel Tyokua
Association for the Advancement of Motorists’ Right and Safety of Nigeria, AAMRSON, has condemned illegal road blocks by touts that claim to be tax agents on some high ways across the country.
The union’s secretary, Mr Billy Oyemonian stated this in Abuja, while fielding questions from journalists after stakeholders’ meeting on the increasing activities of self-acclaimed government revenue agents.
He urged security agents and other relevant authorities to stop the reported cases of harrassement of motorists by unlawful individuals across the 36 states including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Oyemonian stated that the continued blocking of Nigerian roads especially the highways by alleged officials that pose as revenue collectors on behalf of government agencies was a security threat to unsuspecting road users.
The secretary explained that the system forces most motorists to pay levies that are not recognise by the legal constituted government authorities.
“We urge security agents and other legal government authorities to stop the issue of some individuals blocking highways in the name of revenue agents, or collectors, harrassing and intimidating innocent centizens. The situation is a security threat to motorists as well as those that ply highways.
“As a registered body, we are disturbed by the high-handedness, fragrant disobedience to the rule of law, by these touts/ officials posing as revenue collectors on behalf of government agencies, blocking of Nigerian highways for the purpose of revenue collection, or whatsoever means is illegal” he said.
Oyemonian called for concerted efforts among strategic stakeholders to address the ‘unpleasant’ acts in the name of revenue collection, which he said was affecting the activities of multinational construction companies in executing projects across the country.
He urged government at all levels to give the association full powers to tackle the menace, especially to work with Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON).
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