Importers in Anambra State have cried out over the imposition of multiple levies on them by illegal revenue agents operating in the state under the guise of working for the state government.
Anambra has been adjudged the commercial nerve centre of the Southeast, with a large number of importers across the 61 markets in the state.
Investigations by TNC revealed that the importers are asked to pay levies like yellow ticket, road maintenance fee, haulage fees, container levy, heavy-duty levy and park agent fees amongst others.
The Chairman, Importers Association of Nigeria (IMAN), Anambra State chapter Mr. Emeka Ojukwu in a chat with our correspondent, regretted the difficulties their members are going through in the hands of illegal revenue agents, who intimidate, fight and molest their members that questioned the authenticity of the illegal tickets and levies imposed on them.
Mr.Ojukwu condemned the activities of the revenue racketeers that made conveying of goods to final destination an uphill task which inadvertently increases the landing cost of the goods.
He stressed the readiness of IMAN to work with the state government, Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA), security agents and other relevant bodies to ensure that importers pay the right levies to State governments and the right fees on import duty without being extorted.
“IMAN has always maintained the call on its members in the state, to abide by the code of conduct and ethics guiding importers by abstaining from the importation of contrabands, fake, substandard and counterfeit goods that threatens humanity. IMAN special task force is working tirelessly with security agencies to stop the importation of small arms and weapons shipped by some individuals into the country which can threaten the public peace,” he revealed.
Speaking further, Ojukwu said, “Man’s inhumanity to his fellow man is supporting the activities of scrupulous individuals with evil mindset, bringing in counterfeit, unwholesome, fake, substandard products even arms and ammunition into the society just to make gains without recourse to their impact on societal health and peace. These activities were what IMAN is combating for a safer society.”
