Haba Papabrowne, I will say with all respect am disappointed in your interpretation of the situation. Did you not read their reasons, how fair is it that a group of boys will just impose levies of all kinds on people who are working hard to make a lin=ving. Have you evr traveled in one of those trailers? Do you know how many days they spend on the road, bad road bad weather and almost dead cars just to bring food down south and make a living? how fair is it that a grooup of boys who dont work and who are not government officials impose taxes and levies on their small profit?
These are hard working suffering masses, they mostly dont give a hoot if YarAdua is Presdinet or anything, we have had lots of leaders from the north who had no impact on their lives because the roads are still bad and they need good roads and better transport faclities to earn a living and stay alive for their children. Am from the north and believe me the average northern amn prefers to beg and lazy around, the ones that bring food down south are the hard working ones who know that their children deserve a better life and so embark on the suicidal journey.
I think of you with so much more respect, these men are just trying to earn their pay

Well they complain about taxes, but these same people come from regions which force Christians to live in certain areas. In the south, we give these Muslims more freedom, than they give Christians in the north.

They can cry all they want, but it wont help them.

Who is going to buy their beef, it the wealthy south does not have access to it. Do not cut off the nose to spite your face. Foolish people,

Gayigaskia:

I don't think this decision has something to do with North against South, instead this is just a cry for justice against the Nigerian police . the same concern that i see people express all the time on this forum. Also to the contrary this is a move from these businessmen to look out for their customers because the less expenses they make on the road the less high costs will be passed on to the (customer)southerners. Believe me in Niger Republic a cow cost about $40, a friend has told me the same cow will cost about $300 to $400 IN Lagos or Port Harcourt.

u are making sense there.

aisha2:

Haba Papabrowne, I will say with all respect am disappointed in your interpretation of the situation. Did you not read their reasons, how fair is it that a group of boys will just impose levies of all kinds on people who are working hard to make a lin=ving. Have you evr traveled in one of those trailers? Do you know how many days they spend on the road, bad road bad weather and almost dead cars just to bring food down south and make a living? how fair is it that a grooup of boys who dont work and who are not government officials impose taxes and levies on their small profit?
These are hard working suffering masses, they mostly dont give a hoot if YarAdua is Presdinet or anything, we have had lots of leaders from the north who had no impact on their lives because the roads are still bad and they need good roads and better transport faclities to earn a living and stay alive for their children. Am from the north and believe me the average northern amn prefers to beg and lazy around, the ones that bring food down south are the hard working ones who know that their children deserve a better life and so embark on the suicidal journey.
I think of you with so much more respect, these men are just trying to earn their pay

I like your analysis of the issue and it is very valid. The only problem is that you are looking at it from a very narrow perspective.

The problem of illegal levies is a very serious and wide spread problem, especially here in the southern parts. It was first introduced and perpetuated by various government agencies. First the police collect levies and every checkpoint for any business involving movement of goods from one section of the country to the other.  Sometimes they even collect levies for personal goods, once it is over a certain quantity.

Other agencies like customs and quarantine find excuses to collect their own levies (illegal of course). Then the various local governments get a bit innovative and introduce all kinds of levies.  (I have paid local government levies just for moving tiles from Orile-Coker to Ajah)
So i do not like your sensationalizing  the issue. Levies are collected from people irrespective of tribe, tongue or religion. The blame should be put squarely at the foot of the federal government who turn a blind eye to the illegalities going on, especially its own agencies.

Another thing i have problem with is the timing of the threat. Why is it at this time, that there is power struggle between North and south, that the remember the injustice of paying levies in the south, Levies they had been paying for more than 20 years. Then even if they want to issue threats, they are issuing it to the wrong quarters. They should issues threats to the Federal government concerning the bad roads and illegal levies as done by Oil tanker drivers and not to southerners as a whole.

In as much as this threat sounds stupid, it is a known fact that the strike will definitely affect the south because we ACTUALLY need these food items. I guess its hightime we started paying attention to agriculture in the south to forestall this kind of threat.

oge4real:

In as much as this threat sounds silly, it is a known fact that the strike will definitely affect the south because we ACTUALLY need these food items. I guess its hightime we started paying attention to agriculture in the south to forestall this kind of threat.

Educated and sophisticated Southerners pay attention to agriculture ke? are you out of your mind? You want a southerner to learn to use a hoe instead of a pen, to work in the sun instead of inside an air-conditioner, to wear dirty farm clothes instead of a suit or well starched agbada.
They would rather starve that get caught working in a farm.

@ wirinet, you've spoken my mind & I couldn't I've said it better than that.

I want to ask again; what the business of the National Secretary of Amalgamated Cattle Dealers Association is with "beans, rice, vegetables, onions, beans, chickens, maize, carrots, goats, yam and other food items"?
Am I the only one noticing that there is something of an overreach by the "Cattle Dealers"? Why onions, rice, beans etc and not just cattle? Are the "Cattle Dealers" not carrying out a food war on the South under the guise of fighting against legitimate taxes?

Shutalim said, ”If we are transporting cattle and other foodstuffs to the South, some states are blocking us and collecting money from us. If you buy something in Maiduguri and you are bringing it to the South, nobody disturbs you in Yobe, Bauchi, Plateau and Nassarawa. But as soon as you come to Makurdi, you start facing extortion and it extends to Enugu, Anambra, Imo, Abia, Ebonyi, Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, Akwa-Ibom and Cross River.

All you need do is check the starting point of their journey and it becomes clear, this is another unfortunate Hausa / Fulani plot to show their power in the current political power struggle.

This is non sense , please the officers  on the express r men posted from the north and other  parts of the country, multiply tax is all over the country not only in the southern part.
  They should make  the fight a general thing not against the south,

why re we still changing ourself by tribal issue when we should be chanllanging the governments?this is 2010 lets advance and move from tribal things, ghana have more than one languages and never challange another,
the poster made a wrong statement,they re going for strike simply because of the tax an not stop suplying of food to the southern region,

As much as I sympathize with these guyz,and truely they have a valid point but then again, i think embarking on a strike is a wrong move.This is plainly misplacement of priority and even more $tupid is politicizing the issue with constant mention of north and south like they are trying to teach folks down south a lesson.As far as am concerned,this is cutting one's nose to spite the face.They need our money just as much as we need thier foodstuf and livestocks.There are better ways to awaken the FG to their plight than give useless threats that will only further worsen an already bad situation.Even the timing is suspicious and careless,how come they decide to do this when obviously there is tacit and ugly power struggle btw the north and the south,why then should an average southerner not jettison any chance for reasoning and instead embrace the concept that this is an extension of the rigmarole going on in abuja.As much as I would love to see reasons with them, am afraid this is more of politics and a useless ego boosting trip in guise. When they are ready to reason then the southerners will reason with them,Until then, I say let the Fish burn!!

aisha2:

Haba Papabrowne, I will say with all respect am disappointed in your interpretation of the situation. Did you not read their reasons, how fair is it that a group of boys will just impose levies of all kinds on people who are working hard to make a lin=ving. Have you evr traveled in one of those trailers? Do you know how many days they spend on the road, bad road bad weather and almost dead cars just to bring food down south and make a living? how fair is it that a grooup of boys who dont work and who are not government officials impose taxes and levies on their small profit?
These are hard working suffering masses, they mostly dont give a hoot if YarAdua is Presdinet or anything, we have had lots of leaders from the north who had no impact on their lives because the roads are still bad and they need good roads and better transport faclities to earn a living and stay alive for their children. Am from the north and believe me the average northern amn prefers to beg and lazy around, the ones that bring food down south are the hard working ones who know that their children deserve a better life and so embark on the suicidal journey.
I think of you with so much more respect, these men are just trying to earn their pay

Aisha. . . .
I get your point. You are correct if viewed only from the reasons given by the leader of the Cattle dealers. However, if you read between the lines, the intent is an obviously clear attempt to starve the southern states mentioned.

Lets ask ourselves these questions:
*[/b]As Beaf asked, What is the business of the National Secretary of [b]Cattle Dealers Association with beans, rice, vegetables, onions,carrots and other food items??
* Who are those that extort them on highways?? Isn't it usually police officers?? Majority of those police officers(especially MOPOL) happen to be of Northern origin! As for extortion by touts in the cities, everybody faces it. Every business person!!
*[/b]Who will suffer the consequences of their actions?? Isn't it the average southerner(especially the poor) who has zero control over the demands they are making.

The illegal taxes/extortions described here are suffered by every business person operating in any of the states mentioned. Pure Water sellers, Bread Distributors, Village farmers and every other group of business people face the same problems when transporting goods.

The spokeman is creating an impression as though such extortion is targeted at Northerners. Look at what he says below:

Shutalim said, ”If we are transporting cattle and other foodstuffs to the South, [b]some states are blocking us and collecting money from us. If you buy something in Maiduguri and you are bringing it to the South, nobody disturbs you in Yobe, Bauchi, Plateau and Nassarawa. But as soon as you come to Makurdi, you start facing extortion and it extends to Enugu, Anambra, Imo, Abia, Ebonyi, Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, Akwa-Ibom and Cross River.

”We have been paying it. We have decided not to be paying any longer. That is why we are complaining to the Federal Government to stop them. If the Federal Government didn‘t intervene, we will stop the supply of all types of food from the North to every part of Nigeria. We are going to stop until the officers concerned intervene. We are not going to be paying double taxation in federal highway.”

Sincerely, and in my honest opinion, this is a political move! First because of the timing and secondly because of the disconnect btw the issues raised and the actions to be taken.

I guess amalgamated means all the other unions are affilatieted to them and he speaks for them. Pls am not attacking any region but i go to the south and ve witnessed the may groups who impose tax and levies to people and traders, anybody can get up and start collecting some levies, Bakassi Boys, Militants etc, they did not say only the police, In the north, its not so prominenent. I think the only group tha collects levies here is the NURTW

Shutalim who is the National Secretary of Amalgamated Cattle Dealers Association, announced that all the Northern cattle and food unions would participate in the exercise to draw government attention to the plight of the traders.

useless thread, when an educated person decide to deliberately skew headlines just for reaction you can tell he/she is more than jobless

funny thing is its not only northern traders experiencing this

Another thing i have problem with is the timing of the threat. Why is it at this time, that there is power struggle between North and south, that the remember the injustice of paying levies in the south, Levies they had been paying for more than 20 years. Then even if they want to issue threats, they are issuing it to the wrong quarters. They should issues threats to the Federal government concerning the bad roads and illegal levies as done by Oil tanker drivers and not to southerners as a whole.

oh please the struggle between south north is only in your head and several people on nairaland, last time i check nobody on the street of Lagos gave two shyte about this internet struggle

when tank driver go on strike, nobody equates it to a political move but when traders who have genuine concerns raise a voice its political

The reason is simple: from makurdi to cross river, then to the east and west, is where you find the worst roads in nigeria. so probably they tax the drivers to raise some funds for maintenance. if you doubt, travel from cross river to Abuja then notice the change in road network once you enter nasarawa state. who would be happy? Quote me anyhow you want!

detopshot:

The reason is simple: from makurdi to cross river, then to the east and west, is where you find the worst roads in nigeria. so probably they tax the drivers to raise some funds for maintenance. if you doubt, travel from cross river to Abuja then notice the change in road network once you enter nasarawa state. who would be happy? Quote me anyhow you want!

Hmm i think most of these taxes they are complaining about are illegal fess collected by policemen and other agberos in Lagos and different parts of the country

sounds like they are trying to deprive the south of MEAT because they dont like the SS and SE lmfao- thats soo stupiddd lmfao- its so dumb I cant help but laugh.

Dis Guy:

useless thread, when an educated person decide to deliberately skew headlines just for reaction you can tell he/she is more than jobless

funny thing is its not only northern traders experiencing this


oh please the struggle between south north is only in your head and several people on nairaland, last time i check nobody on the street of Lagos gave two shyte about this internet struggle
when tank driver go on strike, nobody equates it to a political move but when traders who have genuine concerns raise a voice its political

hahah true

anyway @post theres always Obasanjo chicken- they even sell it here in the US.

Dis Guy:

Hmm i think most of these taxes they are complaining about are illegal fess collected by policemen and other agberos in Lagos and different parts of the country

Which kain new story be dat?
Lagos was not mentioned anywhere, neither was any place in SW, it is only places in SE and SS. Witness;

. . .But as soon as you come to Makurdi, you start facing extortion and it extends to Enugu, Anambra, Imo, Abia, Ebonyi, Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, Akwa-Ibom and Cross River.

Dis Guy:

Hmm i think most of these taxes they are complaining about are illegal fess collected by policemen and other agberos in Lagos and different parts of the country

Yes that's true. and that's because in most of the northern states you wouldn't find those useless guys on the road cos they mayb no potholes or similar places to mount road blocks. lmao. . .

I guess we have to eat boiled eggs from Monday

2plus4is24:

I guess we have to eat boiled eggs from Monday

Dang.
You beat me to it. I was just going to say 'Fish go don cost be that.'

Beaf:

Which kain new story be dat?
Lagos was not mentioned anywhere, neither was any place in SW, it is only places in SE and SS. Witness;

here, plus he is having this meeting in enugu! it makes sense to mention these areas

Shutalim who is the National Secretary of Amalgamated Cattle Dealers Association, announced that all the Northern cattle and food unions would participate in the exercise to draw government attention to the plight of the traders.

Shutalim said, ”If we are transporting cattle and other foodstuffs to the South, some states are blocking us and collecting money from us. If you buy something in Maiduguri and you are bringing it to the South, nobody disturbs you in Yobe, Bauchi, Plateau and Nassarawa. But as soon as you come to Makurdi, you start facing extortion and it extends to Enugu, Anambra, Imo, Abia, Ebonyi, Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, Akwa-Ibom and Cross River.

”We have been paying it. We have decided not to be paying any longer. That is why we are complaining to the Federal Government to stop them. If the Federal Government didn‘t intervene, we will stop the supply of all types of food from the North to every part of Nigeria. We are going to stop until the officers concerned intervene. We are not going to be paying double taxation in federal highway.”

He said it was worrisome that members of the unions are forced to pay N16,000 tolls to bring their goods into Lagos, but even at that, they were still subjected to various levies before such products are offloaded for sale in the city.

He said that there was no reason why the cattle and food dealers who are Nigerians should be subjected to such taxation and extortion, adding that those demanding levies from them along the highways were taking laws into their hands.

He disclosed that the unions had set up a committee to monitor the strike and ensure that none of their members moved any product from the North to the South until the Federal Government intervenes in the matter.

^
My bad.

Dis Guy:

useless thread, when an educated person decide to deliberately skew headlines just for reaction you can tell he/she is more than jobless

funny thing is its not only northern traders experiencing this


oh please the struggle between south north is only in your head and several people on nairaland, last time i check nobody on the street of Lagos gave two shyte about this internet struggle

when tank driver go on strike, nobody equates it to a political move but when traders who have genuine concerns raise a voice its political 

Mr U are missing the point with Ur very simplistic analogy. No1 is saying thier concerns are not valid, what we are saying is that the methods they want to apply are misplaced and suspicious.It's not like there is any law down south that says every northern trader should be over taxed or exploited,this is a general problem that is not limited to northern traders, go to alaba,yaba mkt,oshodi,ariaria,onitsha mkt etc ask every importer what they go through in the hands of the nigerian customs and its likes when clearing their wares.The problem of over-taxation(illegal and legal) and extortion are what every trader go through.It is totally irresponsible for any group or individual to turn it into south-north issue and in the process punish innocent ppl,that's where I flaw the ppl handling these associations.If they are going to take action,it should be the one that is all inclusive not sth that sounds and looks like politics of wits and power.
As for whether there's a cold power struggle going on btw the north and south,I will leave U to Ur opinions cos just like an a$$hole everybody has got one but that doesn't change the reality besidez u re in the US.

This is just an empty threat.I dont think the strike will work.Most of the people involved in transporting food from the north are southerners who are out to make their money.

Dis one na problem ooooooooo. na b say meat 4 man 2 shew. he don red

anyone in the transport business or perceived to be in the transport business is always in for it

i have a pickup for my personal use, but i am always wary of driving it about lagos or even to ibadan because there are so many fecking task forces out there who will jump on you demanding local government pass, hackney pass ,etc

as an engineer, when preparing documentation for installation of a generator, i always have to make allowancs for settlement of area boys, police,etc during delivery - it is a part of the cost.

why do you think tanker drivers are always going on strike in lagos?

true, most trailer drivers are not it, but thre is a 'task force' compriseing lastma, navy, police, frsc, who basically just hijack trailers. one someone trying to escape them hit me. his oga fixed my car, complaining bitterly the whole while about how difficult the business is and how hjar it is to break even with task force everywhere

the tanker drivers have a solid bargaining card. we dont move, your state slows to a standstill. the last strike was because lastma siezed a tanker or some such



its really sad the sort of minds we have on nairaland - who are bent on twisting everything to religious/tribal undertones.

and make no mistake about it - these task forces etal are far more prevalent in the south.

Thanks for changing the title. It shows that a lot of people did not even read the body well before jumping into this sad ethnic bigotary. Na so our leaders go chop food drink beer, tea, kunu, and tuwa and kuka for our head, while we go siddon for nairaland dey turn everything to norhth and south agenda

It is good we learn to look at issue as objectively as possible. If this allegation is true, which i believed it is, I considered it bad and not good if we are truly one Nigeria.
Federal govt should put a stop to it.

Nosa,

When we learn to admit when we get things wrong and apologise then we learn to be better human beings.

WHY THEN ARE WE IN THE SAME COUNTRY ? THIS IS A MEANS FOR WE IN THE SOUTH TO MAKE IT CLEAR TO THEM THAT WITHOUT THIER CATTLES WE ARE LIVING NICE . AND OUR GOVT SHOULD TELL US IF TRIBALISM IS IN THE NEXT THING THAT WOULD MAKE NIGERIA PROGRESS FROM THE HELL OF A SITUATION WE ARE IN [color=#000099][/color][font=Lucida Sans Unicode][/font][size=8pt][/size]