By Paul Joseph
Commercial motorcycle operators in Akure, Ondo State, have protested alleged multiple levies and ticket collections, with riders accusing revenue collectors of demanding an additional N7,000 payment for an emblem bearing the name of Akure South Local Government Area.
The protest reportedly led to clashes between some commercial motorcycle operators and ticket sellers at different locations in the state capital on Wednesday, leaving several people injured.
The riders alleged that they were being subjected to multiple payments despite having already paid similar levies.
One of the riders, Jimoh Akindele, described the situation as double taxation, alleging that revenue collectors were using different locations across Akure to demand money from operators.
“What they are doing is double taxation. How can Hon. Fasua be selling emblem for riders in Akure South for N7,000? They send boys to different locations to collect money from us,” Akindele said.
Another rider, who identified himself as Adekunle, said commercial motorcycle operators were not opposed to legitimate government revenue collection but demanded transparency over the various payments being requested from them.
According to him, riders could pay for a ticket in the morning and later encounter another group demanding another payment, with claims that the money was for Akure South Local Government.
“We pay in the morning and another person will come later to demand another ticket. When we ask, they will say it is for Akure South Local Government. No satisfactory explanation,” he said.
The riders also accused the council chairman of using the local security outfit, Tiger Base, to harass operators who resisted the alleged collections.
They appealed to Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to intervene and prevent the dispute from escalating.
However, the Chairman of Akure South Local Government Area, Gbenga Fasua, denied authorising the N7,000 levy or receiving any money from the sale of the emblem.
Fasua said he only became aware of the matter after meeting protesting riders in front of the Government Office.
He said the riders informed him that they had already obtained stickers earlier in the year, including one issued during the Ogun Festival, but were now being asked to purchase another emblem.
The chairman said he subsequently visited some of the locations where the alleged collections were taking place and directed those involved to suspend the sales pending clarification from Governor Aiyedatiwa.
“I told them to hold on with these sales. Let’s get clarity from Mr Governor. I went to about two other spots and told them to suspend the sales until we get clarity from the Governor,” Fasua said.
He also rejected claims that the presence of the name Akure South Local Government on the emblem meant that the council had authorised its production or collection.
“They wrote the name of my local government on it, but it does not come from me,” he said.
Fasua maintained that the council had not received any money from the sales.
“When they showed me the ones they had taken, the first one for the year and the second one, they were using the name of my local government to generate funds. I know nothing about it, and not even a dime has come to the local government,” he said.
The chairman questioned why money collected through the emblem was not being remitted to the council if its name was being used in the collection.
He urged the riders and other parties involved to remain calm, stressing that Akure was known for peace and should not be allowed to descend into disorder.
The allegations made by the riders could not be independently verified.
Leave a Reply