ADC accuses Mbah govt of imposing N25,000 levy on Nsukka trucks

In Enugu State, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused Governor Peter Mbah's administration of imposing a burdensome N25,000 levy on haulage trucks operating in the old Nsukka zone. The levy, according to the party, is being collected by the Enugu State Internal Revenue Service (ESIRS) from trucks loading and offloading goods at Obollo-Afor Market in Udenu Local Government Area.

The ADC argues that this levy is exacerbating transportation costs, driving up the prices of goods, and imposing undue hardship on the local population. The party contends that the levy is not being enforced on trucks operating in Enugu urban or certain areas of Enugu West Senatorial District. ADC representatives claim that traders protested against the levy's introduction, but their concerns were not addressed by the government.

Furthermore, the ADC alleges that some truck drivers are now avoiding the Nsukka zone by diverting goods to other locations to evade the levies and taxes imposed by state revenue officials. These actions, the party asserts, result in the additional costs being passed on to consumers. The ADC asserts that the government's tax policies are causing commercial activities in Nsukka to suffer and lamenting the potential collapse of the remaining businesses that survived the Mbah administration's crackdown.

The opposition party questions the rationale behind levying a N25,000 haulage fee on trucks operating in Nsukka while exempting those in other parts of Enugu State. The ADC further argues that this discriminatory tax regime is a manifestation of the marginalization of the Nsukka zone within Enugu State.