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FG constitutes committee to enforce ban of taxes on agric produce

Ogbeh had raised concerns about the illegal checkpoints and revenue collectors along transportation routes for food items, saying it had its impact on the current increase in the prices of food.

Ogbeh had raised concerns about the illegal checkpoints and revenue collectors along transportation routes for food items, saying it had its impact on the current increase in the prices of food.

The Federal Government has constituted an Inter-Agency Committee to enforce ban on collection of levies and taxes on agricultural produce on highways.

A statement issued by Mr Tony Ohaeri, the Director of Information, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in Abuja on Monday, said the committee was inaugurated by the Minister, Chief Audu Ogbeh.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the committee was constituted following recommendations of the Presidential Taskforce on increasing food prices set up in February by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

Ogbeh had raised concerns about the illegal checkpoints and revenue collectors along transportation routes for food items, saying it had its impact on the current increase in the prices of food.

Ogbeh, represented by Dr Bukar Hassan, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, said the committee had become imperative following non-compliance by relevant state agencies and local government authorities which charged multiple levies on agricultural produce.

He urged the committee to facilitate government’s directives on the multiple levies and un-authorised checkpoints during transportation of agricultural produce from one state to another.

“As stakeholders, we are aware of the incessant petitions by agro-commodities traders against the non-adherence of the implementation and abolition of multiple tax collection and levies on the highways.

“The minister has appealed to the 36 state governments and FCT, conveying the decision of the Federal Government on the subject matter to ensure total compliance of all parties.

“Local government authorities have continued to impose such levies and taxes on agricultural produce being moved through the highways,’’ he explained.

Ogbeh urged the committee to also work in accordance with the approval of the National Council on Agriculture.

He said the council had suggested a one stop inspection, grading and certification point of all agriculture produce during its transportation.

According to the minister, the certificate of clearance issued by one state should be accepted at all produce inspection posts throughout the country without an additional levy till the point of destination.

Some of the terms of reference to guide the committee Ogbeh said include; determining modalities to ensure the enforcement of the ban, and to secure state government commitment and compliance.

According to him, the committee is also to request state government’s restriction of relevant state agencies and local government authorities.

The statement quoted Alhaji Auwal Maidabino, the Chairman of the committee and Director of Planning and Policy Coordination in the ministry as saying “the committee would deliver the task given to them.’’

NAN reports that members of the committee were drawn from the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Customs Service, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

2 Comments

  • Author’s gravatar

    “levies and taxes on agricultural produce being moved through the highways’’increase costs of foods—-Chief Audu Ogbeh in this report.

    “Agriculture is business”—focus on export of our foods increases the scarcity and costs of foods—agric ideology of ministry of agric. increases food scarcity and cost

    Biotechnology/Genetic RE-engineering tools and methods for agriculture and the use of GMOs for farming increase food-borne diseases and deaths due to these diseases. This explains why cancers, diabetes, kidney, liver and heart diseases and deaths due to them have been increasing.

    Therefore, BAN all three and NOT one of them.

    Evidence that IITA is implicated in the third:

    “IITA’s main priority is securing a stable and food secure future for sub-Saharan Africa. To do this we focus on key research themes that look at staple food crops, including banana andn plantain, cassava, cowpea, maize, soybean, and yam ……. using advanced biotechnological tools”.

    https://www.iita.org/research/our-research-themes/

  • Author’s gravatar

    It is very good that they are beginning to look and banned the illegal checks point and taxes. it is also good that they would start a one shop stop for all quality inspection, taxes and levies. each state should not be allowed to continue to tax the product as it moves thru each states.
    however it is very important that we quickly start making use of our railway to move agricultural product from one state to another. This would help reduce the cost and reduce the illegal check points. Not only would it help improve the capacity of the railway, it would reduce the wear and tear of our roads.