By Kamsi Anayo
Food stuff dealers in Anambra state have threatened to stop supply of goods to the state if the government continues with what they describe as exorbitant taxation.
According to the dealers, the state government has been imposing heavy taxes on them for bringing in food stuffs to the state.
The Chairman of Ekeh Awka Food Stuff Dealers Association, Mr Chukwuemeka Onyemechi, who spoke during a peaceful protest on Thursday said some hoodlums allegedly working with government agents came to the market and stopped them from off-loading their goods unless they paid N30,000 per truck as against N8,000.
“They also insisted that we pay N20,000 for a truck with six tyres as against N5,000.00 and N6,000 for Datsun truck as against N500 per truck.
“After the off loading of goods, smaller trucks are being forced to pay N3,000.00 as against N300 before the goods would be allowed to leave the market,” he said.
According to him, with the imposition of heavy taxes, the food suppliers have resolved not to supply goods to Anambra State until the government rescinds its decision.
He said the heavy taxation might affect the cost of food items during Christmas and expressed the fears that there would be high increase in the cost of food items.
“We sell geniue corn (dawa) at N40,000 per bag, a bag of millet (jero) at N45,000, a bag of corn at N25,000, a bag of beans at N60,000, beans, N63,000 for a bag of rice, N45,000 for foreign rice and N27,000 for local rice.
“So, with these imposition of heavy taxes, the prices of these goods would skyrocket and if they stop the supplies during this Christmas period, this may be a season of pains for both the traders and our customers.”
When contacted, the Chairman of the Board Of Internal Revenue, Mr Obiora Maduebo, said the traders should direct their challenges to the Chairman of Awka Main Market, Ozo Jude Agumadu.
Agumadu claimed that the revenue contract was awarded to a contractor at the cost of N50million noting that he had no hand in the taxation.