Edo bans highway revenue collection

Edo State Government has banned revenue collection on the highways in the state.

In a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Louis Odion, the government said this followed numerous reports of misconduct by revenue collection agencies.

'Following incessant reports of extortion and harassment of road users on roads and highways in Edo State, the Edo State Government hereby announces the prohibition of revenue collection under any guise by any person or group of persons purporting to be acting on behalf of state or local government.'

Odion added that the state government prohibited the operation of Passengers Welfare Scheme.

'Also, the State Government hereby prohibits the operation of Passengers Welfare Scheme in the state with immediate effect.  The State Government hereby restricts the activities and operations of Drivers Welfare Scheme to designated motor parks and not on our roads or highways.'

He said the order commenced immediately.

'This order takes immediate effect as anyone who disobeys will be summarily dealt with and made to face full weight of the law,' stated Odion.

This is coming on the heels of an SOS sent by an Igbo non-political social group, Aka Ikenga, to Comrade Governor, Adams Oshiomhole of Edo state to save the souls of motorists who apply the Benin Ring by pulling out the henchmen from the federal roads who extort motorists in the guise of revenue collection for the state government.

The President of Aka Ikenga, Chief Goddy Uwazurike, has in the statement said,' We in Aka Ikenga, have noted with dismay the return of the hatchet men and women on the Benin Ring Road who disappeared from the Federal Roads in Edo State after we petitioned the inspector General of Police and copied the Governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and the Local Government Chairman involved. Today, the Local Government men are back to the federal roads around Benin city to demand money from travellers whose only crime is that they are passing through the Federal highway in Edo State.