Market Women Protest High Tolls

Market women from Udua Nka in Eket, Akwa Ibom have  protested against the daily increase in tolls in the market.

Reports say that the women marched to the Eket Local Government to protest the 100 per cent increase from N20 to N50

The women, who carried green leaves and chanted songs, described the arbitrary increase by the council as unbearable.

The spokesperson of the women, Mrs Emem Bassey, accused the officials of the council of exploiting them “under the guise of revenue drive for the local government.

“We came to register our protest on the charges imposed on us. It is even worse because the officials do not give us tickets or proof that the money goes to the council.

“We pay N20 daily toll and the amount written on what they give us as ticket is N10 and now they are demanding us to pay N50.

“We came here to find out what is happening, most of us are struggling to feed our children and do not even have capital. “

She said that the women collect the fruits and vegetables from the farmers on credit and return the proceeds to the farmers the next day, saying: “we cannot afford to pay the new tolls. ’’

She urged the local government to cancel the new daily toll regime.

Addressing the market women, the acting Chairman of the Local Government, Mr Frank Archibong, appealed to them to exercise restraint to enable him to look into their grievances.

Archibong, who said that he had not been briefed, directed that they should revert to the old tolls.