Food Crisis: AK Govt Bans Multiple Taxations … Regulates Unions

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By UbongAbasi Ise

In a bid to bring down high cost of food, Akwa Ibom State government along with traders, farmers and other stakeholders in the state have reached agreement on ways of working towards eliminating bottlenecks rocking free flow of food items in the state.
At yesterday’s first interactive public forum organized in Uyo by the Technical Committee on Agriculture and Food Sufficiency for traders, farmers, and other relevant stakeholders as directed by Governor Udom Emmanuel, it was brought to light that multiple taxations, illegal practices by market unions, harassment by tax force, bad road networks, poor market infrastructure and other anomalies are the possible causes of high cost of food items experienced in the state.
After pressing issues disturbing traders and farmers were duly discussed, the forum came up with a communiqué that would guide trade activities in the state, and this was signed by representatives of the relevant groups.
The forum decided that prevailing multiple levies and ticketing should be eliminated from all markets in the state.
They called on government to regulate the operations of all market unions in the state and to provide adequate security, storage facilities and other infrastructure in the major markets.
The forum decided that no trader should be forced to belong to any market union as this would be purely voluntary; and for anybody voluntarily deciding to join any market union, no induction charges to any member should be above N10,000 in the state.
It was decided that government should encourage and create incentive for private investors who prove to own intra and inter transportation vehicles as this would help in reducing cost of food distribution.
They called on the state government to provide good road networks especially around major markets in Akwa Ibom State.
The communiqué stated that government should eliminate all impediments to the free flow of food items along the established distribution channels and markets in the state; that every commodity or foodstuff seller has the freedom to exhibit their items for sale without any molestation in any market or designated distribution channel of choice; that no market or foodstuff union has the power to exert authority or regulation on the market price of any commodity in the state.
According to the communiqué, harassment by illegal tax force, and members of market unions should be eliminated in the market; and that all market unions should be restricted solely for the purpose of members’ welfare without the interference of commodity prices as to avoid the creation of oligopolistic market.
Governor Udom Emmanuel, who was represented by the deputy governor, Mr. Moses Ekpo, said that the special focus on the food status of the state was what informed the decision to inaugurate the state Technical Committee on Agriculture and Food Sufficiency early in the life of this administration. While maintaining that the attention was to improve agriculture and make food available in the state, he added that focus was also informed by the global indices especially that of the food and agricultural statistics that reported many people around the world as facing acute hunger.
At the forum, papers were presented by Dr. Godwin Udoma, member, state Technical Committee on Agriculture and Food Sufficiency; Dr. Mrs. Edna Akpan, member, state Technical Committee on Agriculture and Food Sufficiency; and Comrade Idorenyin Raphael, Special Assistant to the Governor on Trade Matters.

Source: The Sensor Newspaper

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