The leadership of the Heavy Duty and Haulage Transport Association of Nigeria (HDHTAN), Kogi State, has alerted the public about the activities of people they described as miscreants impersonating HDHTAN and carrying out illegal taxation in the state.

The chairman of the group in the state, Chukwuma Okechukwu Trust, who stated this during a press conference in Lokoja on Monday, said the Association condemned these actions in the strongest terms and urged the public to be vigilant.

He said the Association is working with the relevant authorities to bring these perpetrators to justice, naming a certain civil servant in one of the ministries, who he said was a suspended member of HDHTAN, as one of the perpetrators.

He claimed that this individual has been parading himself as a representative of the Association and extorting money from unsuspecting members of the public.

Speaking further, he said, “We urge the public to be aware of these individuals and to report any suspicious activities to the authorities of HDHTAN Kogi State or any nearby security agencies for appropriate action.”

The group appreciated the support of the Kogi State Government, led by Governor Ahmed Ododo, in making life easier for the Kogi people, despite the economic challenges facing the country.

He added, “We commend the governor’s commitment to creating a conducive environment for businesses to thrive and pledge our support for his administration. HDHTAN solicits the support and synergy of the Local Government and the Kogi State Internal Revenue Service (KGIRS) in achieving its goals.”

He stated that the purpose of this press conference was to sensitize the public on the organisation’s mandate, activities, and scope of operations and to also address key issues affecting the transportation and hauling sector in Kogi State, including multiple taxation, insecurity, and other man-made problems.

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He said, “Our Association is dedicated to promoting the welfare of Kogites, ensuring the safety and security of all heavy-duty vehicles, especially their safety on the highways, and supporting the economic development of Kogi State.

“We recognise the importance of the transportation sector in the economic growth and development of Kogi State. As such, we are committed to working with the Kogi State Government, the Local Government, and other stakeholders to create a conducive environment for Kogites.

“In our short time of operation, we have achieved several milestones, including intelligence sharing, truck monitoring, illicit activity prevention, and whistleblowing. These efforts have helped to prevent the diversion of goods meant for Kogi State, monitor truck usage for illegal activities, and report terrorist activities, kidnapping, human trafficking, and other crimes.

“We recognise and respect the roles of these agencies and have no intention of taking over their jobs. Our goal is to complement their efforts and ensure that multiple and illegal taxation on our members stops. This will contribute to the economic growth and development of the state.

“As the Yuletide season approaches, HDHTAN reassures the public that it is committed to ensuring the safety and security of the transportation sector. We will work tirelessly to ensure that our roads are safe and secure for all users.

“We thank the public for their support and trust in our policies and operations. We are committed to serving the interests of our members and the public, and we look forward to working with all stakeholders to achieve our goals.

“We urge all well-meaning Kogites to join us in rejecting illegal taxation. Our ultimate goal is to reduce food item costs, alleviating citizens’ economic burdens. Moving forward, our actions will reflect our commitment to sanity on Kogi State highways. We have started already; Kabba (Kogi West) was visited by the special task force over the weekend. Our collaboration with the IGP task force and support from the KGIRS is indeed a good one. We are committed to transparency and accountability in all our operations. We believe that this is essential in building trust with our members and the public.”

However, speaking with our correspondent, the accused civil servant denied the allegations, saying that he has since ceased functioning after being removed from office as chairman and that the group just wants to drag his name through the mud.

“I have no hand in any illegal collection. I have ceased to function since my removal as chairman of the Association in the state.

“They should arrest anyone who claims to be working for me. I didn’t send anyone to the road to collect any levy on my behalf. After my removal as state chairman of the Association, I was made the zonal chairman of the Association and only recently received another letter informing me that I have been completely suspended. So, I’m not involved in any collection,” he said.