The Deputy governor of Abia State, Ikechuckwu Emetu has reiterated Governor Alex Otti’s administration’s ban on all illegal levies in the transport and market sector.
This is even as he has disclosed that thousands of Permanent Voters’ Cards, PVCs, were allegedly discovered in the office of the Chairman of Ariaria International Market, Aba, during a recent raid against extortion and illegal levies.
The Deputy Governor, who stated this in Umuahia during the 10th edition of Vision Africa Radio station media training for journalists and other media practitioners, said a total of 23 persons have so far been arrested by the State government in the ongoing crusade against extortion and illegal collection of levies from transporters and traders.
Emetu, who represented Governor Alex Otti, disclosed that some touts were recently arrested at about 1:AM at Ikwuano axis while extorting money from lorry drivers bringing in and taking out food produce along Umuahia-Umudike-Ikot Ekpene road, saying that such was against the orders of Governor Alex Otti.
He said the clampdown on such touting and extortions were designed by Governor Otti’s administration to give Abians a relief from 24 years of illegal activities and advised the dissolved levy collectors to obey the State government.
“We are getting those guys off the streets and making arrests just like the Chairman of Ariaria. He was arrested because we saw thousands of PVCs in his office. We just had to pick him up.
“And those who were into the act of robbing the market women, we had to pick them up because they were always collecting fees and tolls.
“I have no regret being labeled King Harold if I am doing the right thing”, the Abia Deputy governor said.
On the importance of the Vision Africa media training, the Deputy governor appealed to media practitioners and the youths to use the social media factually and responsibly in such a way it would contribute to the development of the State and the nation at large.
He praised Bishop Sunday Onuoha and Vision Africa for organizing the training, saying it would strengthen the capacity of media practitioners.
Earlier in his addresses during the event, the Director General of Nigeria Broadcasting Commission, NBC, Mallam Balarabe Shehu and the President of Vision Africa, Bishop Sunday Onuoha called for responsible and credible application of media tools in promotion of truth, credibility and balance rather than fake news and hate speech.
