HATOMSA inaugurates S’East secretariat in Onitsha, opposes multiple taxation
Members of the Project Management and Implementation, Heavy Truck Owners, Marketers, and Suppliers Association have inaugurated their South-East zonal headquarters in Onitsha, Anambra State.
Speaking during the inauguration in Onitsha, over the weekend, the National Chairman, HATOMSA, Chief Greg Nwerem, highlighted the critical role the transport sector plays in the economic development of the country, adding that transporters are partners in the process.
Nwerem added that the office was unveiled to tackle multiple taxation issues across the South-East.
He lamented that Nigeria has not started harnessing the goldmine in the transport sector, pointing out that with the formation of HATOMSA, the potential will be harnessed to the advantage of the three tiers of government, including drivers, transporters and Nigerians in general.
He said, “We are going to unveil the goldmine in the transport sector and we are going to also fight the multiple levies that deter smooth running of the transport sector. These multiple illegal levies will not continue under my watch. We have an enforcement team that uses modern technology devices for enforcement.
“Multiple levies rip up the gains in the transport system and the government is trying its best and cannot alone fight the war against multiple levies, as it is occupied with scores of other bothering engagements.
“In whatever we do, it has to do with transport, so transportation has an all-round connection and its smooth running will better the Nigerian economy, and that is why we are here to inaugurate the South-East zonal headquarters of HATOMSA as Onitsha is the commercial hub of business activities in the South-East zone.”
Earlier in his address, the South-East Legal Adviser of the body, Chukwuma Eze, disclosed that the new zonal headquarters has all the necessary equipment to help it function to capacity.
He said, “This organisation is formed to better the welfare of all, including our drivers, all road users and government at all levels to harness the potential in the transport sector and improve on the nation’s economy.”
The South-East Coordinator, Dr Arthur Okeyika, who is the CEO of Green Energy Group, a conglomerate of eight companies, disclosed that HATOMSA is all about service to the people, which includes revenue and empowerment for better living.
Okeyika said, “This organisation is also formed to have a unified body that will assist in the welfare of its members and society as the government is too preoccupied to attend to the pressing needs of the people.”
In his speech, the Chairman of the Anambra State Multimodal Transport Committee and member, United Nations Advisory Committee on Trade and Transport Locations, Dr Alban Igwe, stated that there are only two important essentials to humanity.
Igwe listed transportation and medicine as the two essential elements in human life, even as he rated transportation to be more important than medicine.
To buttress his point, he said in all that man does the first thing is movement that has to do with transportation adding, “If one is sick, it is transport that will take him to the hospital before the administration of drugs to the patient.”
On the inauguration of the South-East headquarters of HATOMSA in Onitsha, he stated that Anambra State is the nerve centre for transportation, urging members to see the project as very vital and serious, reminding them that with the introduction of the South-East Development Commission, most of the potential in the zone will be harnessed.
He added, “South-East Development Commission will play a major role, especially in transportation. Nigeria is a gas economy and the bulk of it is from the South-East zone. South-East is where you can have the highest number of human resources, very exportable ones.
“A lot of resources are in the South-East zone, coal, markets, industries, seaports, among others. The potential in this region makes us proud. Anambra has the largest number of billionaires.”
In his contribution, the second-in-command to the National Chairman, Chris Okonkwo, also agreed that the inauguration of the South-East office will assist in no small measure towards harnessing the transport potential in the zone.
He said, “It is going to prove to all that this body will work towards improving the IGR of the three tiers of government, the welfare of our drivers and the general public.”
The Director of Media for the Planning Committee, Dr. Alih Barnabas, who is the CEO of Aliban De Great Industry Limited, Onitsha, expressed satisfaction with the inauguration and described it as a welcome development.
Barnabas said the inauguration will also inspire other players to participate fully in the transport sector in the South-East as the body can assure them of protection in the course of doing their transport business.
Also speaking, an executive member of HATOMSA in the South-East, Dr Francis Chukwuka, said that the zone will create employment and better the welfare of drivers, lamenting that they do not give retirement benefits like pension and health insurance scheme for such drivers.
He enthused, “So we want to assist them by creating these benefits as human beings, they should not be isolated because they play a key role.”
The CEO of AFF Landport Global Estate Limit6d, Prof. CJ Osim, (a.k.a.Oke Muo), disclosed that the inauguration will assist most people in their lives, assuring that God is involved in the project inauguration.
He said, “God is involved in what we are doing today. This is to assist people in managing their resources. We will partner with everybody ready to cooperate with us. We have inaugurated seven zones so far.”
There was a prayer session conducted by His Eminence, Archbishop, Mayor, Dr Mike Chukwudum, the overseer, Rock of Fire Global Mission, Housing Estate Fegge, Onitsha, that preceded the inauguration.
In his sermon, the Archbishop stated that the zonal headquarters has come to stay as it is aimed at assisting in the provision of better welfare for both the drivers and others in the transport sector.
