Government Clamps Down on Touts in Anambra State
By Paul Nwosu
The Anambra State Government has intensified the war against touts in the State.
In a statement in Awka, the state Commissioner for Information, Sir Paul Nwosu, disclosed that following Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludos get-together with transporters and sundry stakeholders in the transportation industry at Prof Dora Akunyili Development Centre, Awka, where he reduced the taxes levied on the operators, there has been an intensification of the battle against touts (ndi agboro) who harass the Keke, Shuttle bus, and other commercial drivers.
According to the Commissioner, in Onitsha, some hoodlums who nefariously branded a Mercedes car in the mode of the Anambra IRS, were apprehended in their devilish deed of harassing the drivers.
He further informed that to underscore the seriousness government attaches to the ban on “agboro”, a set of Hotlines have been specifically created for the public to call anytime and anywhere touts are found to be in operation in Anambra State.
The Hotlines are:
Airtel: 08122554530 and 08120356133
MTN: 07069680112 and 080669695398
The statement advised members of the public to call OCHA Brigade via these numbers for instant apprehension and prosecution of touts (ndi agboro).
The Commissioner also noted that Governor Soludo has reiterated that touting is not a feasible means of earning income, and that the Governor is poised to rehabilitate the touts who own up to wanting to do any other business that is lawful and profitable.
The new Anambra State has no place whatsoever for miscreants and allied hoodlums intent on harassing transporters and thereby putting government revenue in their own pockets.
The OCHA Brigade and the Anambra State Joint Enforcement Team (ANJET) have therefore intensified action as per bringing the incorrigible touts to book.
The situation where commercial transport drivers are being manipulated by some greedy touts into not paying the requisite dues to the appropriate authorities will no longer be tolerated by the government.
The Keke and Shuttle bus and other transport operators should go ahead to pay their reduced rates without paying any heed whatsoever to the manipulative touts and their agents.
The process is on to rid the transport unions of greedy touts who are bent on putting in reverse gear the progress being made in Anambra State by the Governor Soludo administration.
The government is therefore calling on the public to “Say something when they see something!” Any tout sighted anywhere should be reported to OCHA Brigade or ANJET through the provided hotlines!
Anambra State cannot affort to continue to tolerate these vampires who have for many years been denying the government the revenue it will use to work for Ndi-Anambra.
Sir Paul Nwosu
Commissioner for Information
Anambra State
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