Hawkers and wheelbarrow pushers at the Eke-Awka Market in Awka have raised a call for intervention over the exorbitant tolls being collected from them by various groups.
It was gathered that up to three different groups collect as much as N300 each from the hawkers and wheelbarrow pushers daily.
TNC observation also revealed that some of these levy collectors include individuals working for the market association, the community, ASWAMA, and other groups.
A hawker was seen during a visit to the market being beaten and dragged away by some youths, who claimed they were working for the community, as traders watched helplessly.
One of the traders, who pleaded anonymity, revealed that no one dared to challenge the boys in collecting the tolls, as they have the backing of top local government and market officials. They can be quite dangerous when confronted.
Recall that the State Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, had in 2022, upon assumption of office, proscribed all forms of levies on wheelbarrow pushers, hawkers, and vulcanizers in the State, insisting that his government is committed towards ensuring that the poorest of the poor and the less privileged get protection.
But, according to a hawker at the market, Esther Eze, they are forced to pay as much as N300 for all four tickets they buy.
She also said that on Fridays and Saturdays, they would have to pay N1500 if they wanted to enter the market for Amikwo land.
According to her, the youths collecting the tolls mete out all kinds of unsavoury treatments to any person who refuses to pay, including beating the person or seizing their wares.
“If you don’t pay, they will seize your goods and even beat you up.
“The market leaders are aware of these tickets. Also, we pay to the local government.
“The sliced cassava I sell is two hundred per satchet, and the entire goods on this tray is N10,000. Imagine if, after paying the tolls, how much will remain.
“I am tired of even carrying this thing on the tray.
“At the end of the day, I make two thousand naira gain after sales, but with these tolls, after a day’s sales, I have less than 1000 gain. Can I feed my family with 1000 naira?” she queried.
The aggrieved hawker regretted that when the governor banned the payments after assuming office, they were only paying for one ticket, but said that now, they are paying for three tickets.
She pleaded that the government intervene in the matter to save the poor people trying to eke out a living across the state.
“Even if it is for ASWAMA, that is for cleaning the state, we wouldn’t mind paying. As long as it is one payment.
“But these three tolls, on top of this single tray I am carrying on my head, that is not fair at all,” she lamented.
When our correspondent approached the Managing Director of ASWAMA, Mr. Mike Ozoemena, regarding the development, he clarified that the agency does not send its officials to collect any toll from hawkers and other low-income earners at the market.
He noted that the State Governor had banned all kinds of levies for hawkers, barrow pushers, vulcanizers, and other very poor traders across the state, and the ASWAMA cannot be a party to undermining the genuine efforts of the governor towards making things easier for the poor and lowly in the state.
Ozoemena insisted that anyone collecting tolls from the stipulated categories of people is a criminal and should be treated accordingly.
“Any operative of the ASWAMA caught collecting such toll will be seriously dealt with as an example for others to learn from,” he said.
Our correspondent also reached out to the Executive Chairman of Awka South Council Area, Prince Chinedu Okafor, who, in his response, denied such collection, saying, “Awka South doesn’t collect a single tax from petty traders.”
“The council has also advised petty traders to avoid patronizing local touts.”
