The Cross River State Government has dismantled no fewer than 50 illegal revenue points in parts of the state.
This follows a monitoring and inspection exercise led by Special Adviser to the Governor on Tolls Collection, Mr Bassey Ita Edet, in the northern part of the State.
Findings indicated that unauthorised persons allegedly use the 50 revenue points to extort money from commuters on the roads within the State.
Edet told journalists that they are poised to clamp down on the menace of illegal checkpoints and tolls, which is the reason a massive crackdown on such collections has begun.
He stressed that the end to all illegal tolls and checkpoints was in line with the mandate of Governor Bassey Otu’s “People’s First.”
He said the team is given the mandate to enforce, inspect, and monitor all approved checkpoints and toll collection to ensure compliance and due process.
Edet warned those that have constituted themselves as hindrances to the government’s effort to stem illegal collection of taxes, rates, and assessments as a way of creating an enabling environment for commercial users of the roads, saying his team will not condone such any further.
Further findings confirmed that vehicles carrying goods are subjected to paying N27,000, and failure to comply results in impounding ‘offending’ vehicles.
Victims of road harassment by touts alleged that they used military men to enforce the extortions.
A driver, Etom Daniel, who plies the Cross River North routes, lamented other road taxes in other parts of the state.
“This is one of the major reasons for the increment in the costs of food items and farm produce cultivated in Cross River State.
“Some persons who have no idea about public administration are trying to tarnish the governor’s name.
“I am the Governor may not be aware of all these harassment, wickedness and extortions perpetuated by those they’ve given sub-heads,” he said.