Illegal levies, extortion, multiple checkpoints killing our business in Ogun, NCAN cries out

Laide Raheem, Abeokuta

The Ogun State chapter of National Cashew Association of Nigeria (NCAN) has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Dapo Abiodun to save its members from “illegal taxes and levies” being imposed on cashew nut producers by agents of the government.

The Association equally lamented the incessant harassment of its members and extortion by security agents as well as agencies of the state government, while transporting produce from farms to warehouses within Ogun and other neighbouring states.

NCAN stated further that  numerous roadblocks and check points mounted by security agents and agencies of the state government have taken a serious toll on the business of its members.

Addressing newsmen in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, the Consultant, Special Duties of NCAN in the state, Taiwo Akinlabi, explained that members of the association were being forced to cough out different amounts of money at the road blocks while transporting produce across the state.

According to him, drivers who convey cashew products from Ilara/Imeko, Obada/Olorunda/Ayetoro axes to Rounder Area in Abeokuta, have no fewer that 43 road blocks to contend with.

He added that the “illegal taxes and levies” being forced down on the cashew merchants at various collections points by security agents, officials of the state Internal Revenue Service, the Parks and Garages Development Board, Local Governments Task Forces and Government Ministries, as well the Community Development Associations, have had negative effects on their business.

Akinlabi explained that the checkpoints include 15 mounted by the police, 3 by the Nigerian Army, 19 by Nigerian Customs, 2 by the Nigerian Immigration and another 2 mounted  by the officials of Nigerian Agricultural Quarantine Service.

He disclosed further that NCAN members are being forced to pay at each spot monies ranging between N10,000 and N50,000 naira per truck.

He added that a truck driver moving 30 tons of cashew from Ilara in Imeko Afon Local Government Area of the state through Abeokuta, the State capital to a warehouse in Lagos state will have to part with between N600,000 and N650,000 at the multiple checkpoints and roadblocks mounted by both uniformed and non uniformed persons.

Akinlabi, who stated that NCAN members in the state are partners in progress with the federal, state and local government authorities in the efforts to move the nation forward, especially through agriculture, expressed concerns over the plight of members of the association.

“We energize the cashew industry to promote economic growth, job creation, and foreign exchange earnings. In 2024 alone, about 9,500 metric tonnes of cashew nuts were produced in this Ogun for sale both within Nigeria and for exports with all legitimate taxes and levies duly paid to the right quarters including the legitimate grading fees of 11,500 (eleven thousand five hundred) naira per ton of graded cashew and another 5% (five percent) payment as export levy on every consignment being taken out of the country”, he stressed.

He said that members of the association are already buckling under the weight of unstable international market prices of cashew, poor yields due to climate change and enforcing quality control, lack of funds for large scale merchandise, insecurity and poor road network among others, hence the call for intervention of the Federal Government and state government into the matter.

“The incessant harassment has become a serious threat to our members operations and efforts to contribute to the present administration’s agenda of strengthening the economy through Agriculture and that’s why we are appealing to the relevant authorities to put a stop the harassment and extortion that have been causing untold hardship to our members and capable of leading to violent resistance and chaos.

“To promote the enabling environment for our members to operate their businesses seamlessly, we are calling for the urgent intervention of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Federal Government, Governor Dapo Abiodun and the State Government, Chairmen of Local Governments, the Inspector General of Police and the State Commissioner of Police, the Comptroller-General of Customs and the Customs Area Controllers, the Chief of Army Staff and the 35 Artillery Brigade Commander.

“We are also not leaving the authorities of the Ogun State Internal Revenue Service, the Parks and Garages Development Board, PAGADEB and the State Commissioners for Community Development and Cooperatives,  the Ministry of Environment, Commerce and Industry as well as that of Transport in Ogun State.

“Cashew is not a contraband or smuggled product; save our business from collapsing because of extortion. We are begging the relevant authorities to look into this problem and put a stop to the trend because extortion is adding to the high cost of transportation of cashew and reducing our production capacity and many of our members can no longer supply directly to international companies in Lagos and other neighbouring states.

“Enough is enough, we cannot continue to work to feed illegal tax collectors on the roads, let the relevant authorities rescue us from extortion that is killing our business so that we can prosper and contribute our quota to National development”, Akinlabi submitted.