OLORUNDARE ENIMOLA, Lagos
The Allied Truck Transporters Association of Nigeria, ATTAN, has raised concerns over a planned inclusion of its members in obtaining 'Emission Permit' at the cost of Five Thousand Naira per annum from the Ogun State government through the Ogun State Environmental Protection Agency, OGEPA, which they consider as another overwhelming burden to existing multiple levies and charges being paid by its members to several government and private bodies.
Alhaji Moruf Akorede, the National President of the Association who spoke to newsmen on Thursday, expressed his astonishment over the planned introduction of the emission levy, pointing to the various levies, charges, permit fees, tickets, emblem sales and dues collected from his members in Ogun State, heightening the costs of their logistic business in the State.
He therefore called on Prince Dapo Abiodun, the State Governor, saying; "my appeal goes our amiable Governor in Ogun State to kindly call the Agency to order for the sustainability of our logistic services which is currently overburdened with multiple levies to several institutions, which indirectly is the factor behind high cost of transporting goods and services, transferred to hapless consumers."
Comrade Mudashiru Taiwo, the Zonal Chairman, Ifako/Ijaiye/Alimosho Zone of ATTAN, revealed that the emission permit, was once proposed during the tenure of Governor Gbenga Daniel, but was quashed after several considerations were weighed and was found that it will be an excess baggage for transporters if they are included.
He said, "the Emission Permit was muted during the tenure of Governor Gbenga Daniel and attempts were then made to include transport operators in obtaining the permit but after consultations with relevant government officials, we were reliably informed that transporters are not part of those expected to obtain the permit, but companies and organisations operating large generators producing fumes and industrial carbon emitters, moreso, the government took into cognizance our financial commitments to several other forms of levies across the State.
"We are however surprised, when our National President called this morning to inform us of the planned inclusion of ATTAN members in the bracket of those to obtain emission permit at the cost of Five Thousand Naira annually, this is despite the multiple layers of levies being paid by ATTAN members to several bodies." He lamented.
Alhaji Usman Abdulyekin, former Zonal Chairman, Ifako/Ijaiye/Agege Zone and ATTAN Patron, explained that, the National President of the association received a call from Lukman Busari, the Ogun State outgoing Chairman of ATTAN, informing him of the planned inclusion of ATTAN in the payment of emission fees for every truck coming into the State.
He stressed that the enforcement is billed to commence from the Month of August this year, saying, "we are wondering why should our trucks be burdened to pay for emissions when virtually every vehicle on the road in Nigeria are responsible for carbon emissions, why is the Ogun State government particular about the truck operators?" He queried.
Alhaji Abdulyekin speaking further said, "our members are committed to so many charges, including; insurance, hackney permits, road worthiness fees, Local Government vehicle emblems, worth over Twenty Seven thousand at the moment, all manners of parking fees, Agency bills and others, excluding costs of vehicle maintenance and repairs.
He called on the Ogun State government to have a rethink on this move, putting into perspective the harsh economic climate they are operating in, else the members will be forced to resist the move for survival purpose.
Alhaji Mutiu Akinbode, a former National President of ATTAN and currently a member of the Board of Trustees added that another major problem faced by the members are the harassments of street urchins and touts on Ogun roads, wielding sticks, rods, clubs, canes and other dangerous weapons, used to obstruct trucks in transit for the purpose of extorting the drivers financially and when the driver's attention is diverted, they steal goods being conveyed, many innocent drivers have been prosecuted for stolen goods in transit.
He said, "the menace of street urchins on Ogun roads is a nightmare to many truck drivers and owners, using bad spots on the roads to forcefully stop moving trucks and failure to give them can lead all manner of assault and bodily harm to the driver and co travellers. I'm calling on concerned governments to kindly fix our roads for uninterrupted movements of trucks that will reduce the success of street urchins in stopping ongoing vehicles."
In his submission, Comrade Fatai Ibrahim, the Zonal Secretary, appealed to the Government to give waivers to the importation of trucks and vehicle parts to make vehicle maintenance easier, stressing that association members are also facing the menace of security officials in transit, who are quick to apprehend our drivers on a flimsy reason, while making huge financial demands before effecting release of such trucks.
Findings by DAILY INDEPENDENT from the OGEPA website revealed however that the issuance of emission permit did not include vehicles, neither are trucks expected to obtain such a permit, except for facilities found within the specified categories.
No comments:
Post a Comment