SECCIMA Condemns Imposition Of Levies

The president, South East Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (SECCIMA), Mr Humphrey Ngonadi, has strongly condemned what he called illegal imposition of levies by Traditional rulers, Presidents-General of town union, Local and State Governments in the South East.
Ngonadi made his feelings known in a keynote address  he presented recently on the occasion of maiden edition of Igbo Business Leaders Hall
His words: “On several highways you encounter youths chasing trucks with dangerous weapons. They are collecting illegal levies courtesy of local and state governments.
“If you succeed in loading up your wares or items of trade, you will be stopped and harassed in any of our by-ways and inland roads by youths chasing trucks with big sticks and dangerous weapons. These youths collect illegal levies imposed by Traditional Rulers and Presidents-General of our town unions and they are not accountable to any one.
“And you cannot escape them traveling day or night as they have a constant presence. Before the EndSARS protests, there were over 300 Army, Police, Customs and Immigration check points in the South East. Reports indicate that there were 12 army checkpoints and 16 police checkpoints supported by stop and search teams on Aba-Enugu road, a distance of 150 kilometers. This is the situation on all roads in the South East region”,he further lamented.
Continuing, Ngonadi said, “we can only continue to plead with the government to create a conducive atmosphere for business to thrive. To unnecessarily over burden people, is to give them the moral courage to disobey and even revolt. Government should act before things get out of hand. I say that SECCIMA is willing to work with any government ready to solve these problems”.
It would be recalled that the maiden edition of Igbo Business Leaders Hull of Fame Awards /Induction of 2020 class of business icons was recently organized by Champions Court in conjunction with South East Chamber of Commerce (SECCIMA), South East Almagamated Market Traders Association, among others.
Of the nine (9) awardees, selected for award /induction only Dr Samuel Maduka Onyishi, owner of over 4,000 fleet Peace Mass Transport honored the occasion with his presence.
Others were Dr Cletus Madubugwu Ibeto, Prince Arthur Eze, Dr Inncent Chukwuma, Dr Stella Okoli, Dr Leostan Eke, Dr Cosmas Maduka, chief Allen Onyeama, and Senator Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah.

By: Canice Amadi, Enugu