Double Taxation Worries Marine Operators In Rivers

Marine operators within
Port Harcourt and its environs have been lamenting over what they called double taxation by some authorities who claimed to be in charge of marine activities in Rivers State.
Some of the operators who barred their minds in an interview with The Tide correspondent in Port Harcourt on Wednesday said they could not bear the burden any longer as it is affecting their businesses in the state.
According to them, apart from  the Federal Government approved National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), they still pay other fees to government agencies and other bodies under the guise of one levy or the other.
They are of the view that it is high time such double taxation should stop, or they would resort to legal and other means to stop the illegal collection of fees, charges and dues as such multiple taxations are unconstitutional, illegal and fraudulent.
According to them, as private commercial marine operators, they should be told in clear terms whom or who are the rightful authorities to collect marine levies, as some use law enforcement agents and other  military personnels to perfect their illegal activities, and are therefore calling on the governments to direct them in this direction because they are confused and don’t know what to do.
A Chief Executive of a dredging company, Chief Sotonye Tubo –Tobin  expressed total disappointment that people could connive and allegedly dupe innocent citizens who are carrying out their legal businesses to fend for themselves, but were being confronted with one levy or the other, thereby making things difficult for them.
Chief Tubo-Tobin lamented that the trend if not checked could lead to fold –up of some outfits on the sector, and called for government intervention.
Gabriel Agbouerie, a mariner also lamented over the double taxation of marine operators in the state, adding that NIWA has been the body they have been dealing with before other bodies came extorting all sorts of dues from them.
Another concerned Mariner, Ralph Worika also called for proper investigation into the illegal collection of fees from marine operators in Rivers State.
According to him, government should intervene and bring those perpetrators to book to save them and their businesses because there are many employees under them that if nothing is done, could effect their employment opportunities.
It would be recalled that the Port Harcourt  Area Manager of NIWA, Alhaji Abdullahi Daai had earlier issued a warning to the Rivers State Ministry of Environment and other illegal bodies to desist from collection of fees from Marine operators as they are the only statutory agency vested with such collection within the state’s waterways.

Collins Barasimeye

The chairman of the occasion, Mr. Tamuno Ajubo Atamuno cutting the tape to declare the speed boat house open at Okrika while Rev Iyolobia Tamunokonbia and members of the association watch, recently. Photo: NAN