By Agency Report
Rice millers in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State ,
have protested against what they
claimed to be multiple taxation in the
state’s mill market.

The millers, who decried alleged
extortions of traders by the
management of the market, called on
the state government to find a lasting
solution to it.

They appealed to the government to
review its revenue policy and reduce the
increased taxes.

The protesters carried placards with
different inscriptions such as,
“Management should not take rice mill
as their father’s business”, “We are tired
of the multiple and high taxes”, “We
need an elected chairman and not
Caretaker Committee to move
development forward in the mill.”

Speaking with journalists in Abakaliki on
Tuesday, Chukwuma Eniokoro, the
chairman of millers in the market, said
they embarked on the peaceful protest
to appeal to government to reduce the
increased taxation in the rice mill
market.

“This is our first time of experiencing a
lot of abnormalities in the area of taxes
and revenues in this market. Our
monthly payment for revenue was
N500,000 before, but had been
increased to N3.5 million at the
moment.

“The cost of an empty bag of rice has
increased – a 25kg bag sold for
between N150 and N200 before is now
N300, while the 50kg bag that was
selling for N300 before is now selling for
N500.

“Other charges such as gate fees have
also been increased and this is driving
away our customers.

“We cannot cope anymore. We had
endured sufferings and smiling for so
long and we want it to stop,” Mr
Eniokoro stated.

Obinna Irem, a mill owner, also decried
the multiple taxation and “extortion”
from the management of the market.
“Our stand now is, henceforth, to stop
milling until our problems are solved.
The market is already closed, no rice
milling. All our customers have diverted
to other markets in the north,” Mr Irem
said.

Samuel Ogodo, the chairman, Caretaker
Committee in the Rice Mill market, said
the protest was a welcome
development, but, however, said some
of the allegations were untrue.

Ikechukwu Eze, the special adviser to
Governor David Umahi on Internal
Security, said the message from the
protesting millers would be delivered to
the state government.

“We have heard all your demands and I
am here to take your messages and
submit them to the state government.

“The governor asked me to tell you to
embrace peace, because it is under a
peaceful atmosphere that we can
achieve more progress,” Mr Eze said.
https://www.premiumtimesng.com/business/business-news/462674-rice-millers-protest-multiple-taxation-in-ebonyi.html

I have so many things to say here, but because of my respect for Dave Umahi, lemme just keep quiet.

I was brought up in an African community where elders are respected and well regarded.

But is it true some people wake their parents as if they are kicking football?

Hnnmm

Excess taxation isn't the way forward. It is like a business administrator trying to increase prices to shore falling revenue, it will give competitors an edge over that business. We need to properly structure this theft bases entity called Nigeria.

Simplyleo:
I have so many things to say here, but because of my respect for Dave Umahi, lemme just keep quiet.

I was brought up in an African community where elders are respected and well regarded.

But is it true some people wake their parents as if they are kicking football?

Some others carry their parent's skull like calabash of palmwine if I am not mistaken?

Outrageous. Umahi do sth