Obio/Akpor Not Richest LGA In Nigeria, Ariolu Clarifies

Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Barrister George Ariolu, has debunked claims that the council was the richest in Nigeria owing to the large population and concentration of businesses in the area.
Ariolu, who spoke with a team of Editors of The Tide on the issue as part of activities marking his one year in office, last Wednesday, said Obio/Akpor was neither the richest LGA in Rivers State nor in the country.
He said that in terms of federal allocation, Obio/Akpor was not the richest, stressing that in terms of revenue from business outfits and property developers, the council could not access what was due it fully because most business owners and residents preferred to patronise touts rather than paying their due taxes, rates and fees to the council voluntarily.
Ariolu explained that most business outfits in Obio/Akpor, including the big players preferred to deal with touts instead of paying taxes directly to the council’s coffers.
He said the council currently has 300 revenue related cases in revenue court.
He called on residents and business owners in the area to stop patronising touts,urging them to always investigate the identities of those claiming to be Obio/Akpor revenue agents.
Ariolu said his administration was tackling the issue of proliferation of taskforces in the area, adding that he had led a team from the council to bust two separate syndicates involved in illegal business of touting and extortion of unsuspecting members of the public and business owners in the area.
He also said that in compliance with the directive of Governor Nyesom Wike, he had led a task force to dislodge those involved in indiscriminate parking of tankers and trailers in the area.
He called on the people to report activities of illegal task forces to the appropriate quarters for immediate arrest and prosecution.

By: John Bibor