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From Okwe Obi, Abuja
Traders under the banner of Coalition of Agricultural Producers, Market Traders, Haulage and Interstate Transport Associations of Nigeria (CAPMHTAN) has raised the alarm over illegal highway checkpoints and multiple taxation by touts.
To address the problem, it tasked the Federal Government to inaugurate the Heavy Duty and Haulage Transport Association of Nigeria (HDHTAN) as nationally recognised inter-agency operational platform.
CAPMTAN National Chairman and Secretary Osigbemeh Emmanuel and Sunday Olawoyin, in a communique after its meeting in Abuja,
warned that the continued proliferation of illegal checkpoints, multiple taxation, extortion and insecurity on federal highways were undermining interstate commerce, driving up the cost of transportation and worsening inflation across the country.
Emmanuel noted that the communiqué was endorsed by chairmen of 12 other associations following an extensive meeting to review the operational realities affecting freight transportation on Nigeria’s federal highways.
“Among the challenges highlighted were the continued proliferation of illegal checkpoints established by unauthorised persons and agencies, multiple taxation and illegal levies imposed by state and local actors, widespread extortion and harassment of transporters, unlawful seizure of vehicles, disruption of legitimate haulage operations, kidnapping of truck drivers, armed robbery, cargo theft and vandalism of transport assets,” he said.
In addition, he expressed worry over what it described as inconsistent implementation of Federal Government policies by some state governments despite the provisions of Presidential Order No. 001 on Ease of Doing Business.
He lamented that the continued resistance by some state governments and agencies to the operations of the HDHTAN Federal Taskforce despite official communications issued by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation was disturbing.
“Such resistance is contrary to the spirit of intergovernmental cooperation required to promote national economic growth, secure interstate commerce, and eliminate illegal practices on federal highways,” he said.
Reaffirming his commitment to lawful operations, he pledged continued support for every legitimate Federal Government initiative aimed at strengthening national security, improving the ease of doing business, protecting genuine transport operators, eliminating multiple taxation, curbing illegal revenue collection, enhancing intelligence gathering and promoting transparency and accountability in highway operations.
“We reiterate our confidence in the HDHTAN Federal Taskforce as an important intervention for restoring order and strengthening compliance on Nigeria’s federal highways,” the communiqué stated.
According to him, the coalition comprises of Heavy Duty and Haulage Transport Association of Nigeria (HDHTAN), National Tomatoes Transporters Association of Nigeria (NTTAN), National Cassava and Agricultural Produce Haulers Association (NCAPHA), National Cattle Haulers Association of Nigeria (NCHAN), National Livestock Transporters Forum (NLTF), National Charcoal and Solid Minerals Haulers Association (NCSMHA), and National Timber and Forest Produce Transporters Association (NTFPTA).
Others are: National Container and General Cargo Haulers Business Group (NCGCHBG), National Building Materials Transporters Association (NBMTA), Association of Quarry, Chipping Stones (AQCS), National Food Commodities Transporters Association (NFCTA), and the Association of Farm and Agricultural Produce (AFAP).
While acknowledging recent reforms by the Federal Government, he appreciated to President Bola Tinubu for policies aimed at improving the ease of doing business, strengthening road safety, protecting legitimate businesses and enhancing interstate transportation.
He, also, lauded the establishment of the HDHTAN Federal Taskforce, describing it as a strategic intervention that has provided hope for sanitising federal highways through the dismantling of illegal checkpoints, combating multiple taxation, monitoring heavy-duty truck operations, gathering actionable intelligence, exposing economic sabotage and facilitating the free movement of goods and services nationwide.
“We particularly commend the establishment of the HDHTAN Federal Taskforce, whose mandate has continued to provide hope towards sanitizing federal highways through combating multiple taxation; dismantling illegal checkpoints and extortion points; monitoring heavy-duty truck operations; gathering actionable intelligence for relevant security agencies; reporting economic sabotage and illegal revenue collection and supporting the free movement of goods and services across Nigeria.”
