In Onitsha, Anambra State, protesting truck drivers on Friday stopped the River Niger Bridgehead.
The truckers claimed that they were in opposition to the state government’s imposition of taxes on trailers, lorries, trucks, and other vehicles delivering products into Anambra.
The demonstration, which began early on Friday, resulted in a complete shutdown of the bridge, the Enugu-Onitsha and Onitsha-Owerri expressways, as well as all other highways that enter and leave Anambra via Onitsha.
Commuters were left trapped by the circumstance, and others were compelled to disembark from their cars and begin walking.
While stating the reason for their action, the drivers lamented that the state government had imposed a levy of N30,000 for trailers loading and offloading goods in the state, while other vehicles have their own amount ranging from N20,000 to N25,000.
A driver, identified as Odion Omoroge, who spoke on behalf of the aggrieved members, expressed surprise about the levy, describing the action by the government “as the worst the people of the state will see.”
Tipper Drivers Threaten To Block Anambra Roads
He said, “Violence about the collection of money by the government revenue collectors is being witnessed daily in Anambra state, particularly in Onitsha. Violence is more pronounced now than ever before, yet the same government said it does not want touts, yet touts are having a field day on the roads on a daily basis.”
Although, the police were on the ground preventing a breakdown of law and order, but the aggrieved drivers were undaunted even as commuters battled to pass through the roads.
The Anambra Police Command’s spokesman, Tochukwu Ikenga, could not be reached as calls and messages to his telephone line were not responded to
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