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Abia State governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has directed the immediate suspension of sundry transport levies hitherto imposed on Tricycles (Keke), Buses, Taxis and other commercial vehicles purportedly on behalf of the government.
The directive is said to be in keeping with his campaign promise to sanitize methods of revenue collection in the State, and stop all kinds of extortion, intimidation and harassment of motorists, a statement by the governor’s media aide, Ferdinand Ekeoma explained on Wednesday
He said the suspension takes immediate effect and will remain until government reviews the levies and makes public its arrangements for the smooth, organized and transparent collection of such transport levies in a manner that would not lead to extortion, intimidation and violation of rights and privileges of Abia residents.
The government, the statement further said, believes that the present method is archaic and harmful to the lives of the people and the economic well-being of the State, hence its discontinuance.
Ekeoma said that in the light of the above decision, the governor has asked all those involved, directly and indirectly to discontinue forthwith, or face the wrath of the law, as security agents have been briefed and directed to apprehend and bring to justice anyone found violating this directive.