BREAKING: IKPEAZU BANS TOUTS FROM COLLECTING REVENUE IN ABIA

 IKPEAZU BANS TOUTS FROM COLLECTING REVENUE IN ABIA

Following the death of a pregnant woman and various degrees of injury sustained by three other passengers in an accident involving a tricycle and another vehicle at the Waterside area of Aba, as a result of activities of revenue collectors in the area, the Abia State governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, has directed security agencies in the state to fish out all those involved in causing the accident and bring them to justice without delay.

This is contained in a release signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Enyinnaya Appolos.

The governor also reinstated the ban on the use of touts in collecting flying revenue in the state.

He urged security agents to arrest any individual or group operating as a revenue agent in the state, particularly within Aba and Umuahia.

He directed that only members of the approved transport unions and uniformed officials of the state revenue service agency are authorized to use “humane and acceptable means to collect due to revenue for the state”.

“All interdiction points at Aba, including the fire service premises, railway junction, Osisioma roundabout and others are hereby shut. Security agents should ensure immediate compliance and release of all vehicles parked within the premises used by revenue agents or touts.

“Our sincere condolences go out to the family of the dead and other accident victims as we also wish the injured quick recovery.

“The state Commissioners for Transport, Commissioner for Health and the Chairmen of Aba South, Aba North and Obingwa local governments are hereby directed to identify and immediately visit the bereaved family as well as the injured persons in hospital.

“Every effort must be made to ensure that adequate medicare is provided to the injured at government’s expense,” he concluded.