The Wadata Media and Advocacy Centre (WAMAC), a prominent anti-corruption organization, has applauded the Ebonyi State Government for its strong enforcement of the ban on toll and levy collections from petty traders in local markets.
This comes in the wake of the recent arrest of five fraudulent revenue agents, a move WAMAC hails as a significant step in the fight against extortion. The organization is now urging the government to ensure the swift prosecution of those involved to deter similar illegal activities.
The ban, first announced by Governor Francis Nwifuru on January 30, 2024, was intended to reduce the financial strain on petty traders by putting an end to unauthorized collections. These tolls and levies, often extracted by illegal revenue agents, have long been a source of hardship for traders, many of whom struggle to make ends meet.
WAMAC, with the support of the MacArthur Foundation, has been a key player in Nigeria’s push for good governance and anti-corruption reforms. Through its work, the organization has trained journalists and co-produced investigative radio programs aimed at exposing corruption across the country’s six geopolitical zones. Two of these programs, “Nnyopu” (in Igbo) and “Eagle Eye” (in Pidgin), have been airing on Radio Nigeria Unity FM in Abakaliki and are credited with shedding light on the toll collection scandal in Ebonyi State.
In February 2024, investigative reports produced by these programs revealed how unscrupulous agents continued to defy the governor’s directive, illegally collecting levies from petty traders in the state capital, Abakaliki. These revelations prompted the Ebonyi State Board of Internal Revenue to act swiftly. By March 2024, officials had launched a series of crackdowns, targeting markets such as Kpirikpiri and the International Market in Abakaliki. The raids brought much-needed relief to traders, as several illegal agents abandoned their posts and fled.
In a more recent raid at the International Market, the state revenue officials arrested five fake revenue agents who had been terrorizing traders by extorting them under the guise of toll collection. This latest success has been widely celebrated by traders and advocates for market reform.
In a Press Release signed by the Executive Director, Zubair Abdurra’uf Idris, WAMAC acclaimed the government’s efforts to alleviate the burdens faced by petty traders but stressed the need for sustained action. “While we commend the Ebonyi State Government for its efforts to protect vulnerable traders, there is a need for a more permanent solution,” Idris said. “We urge the government to establish a dedicated taskforce that will patrol the markets daily. This will prevent illegal toll collections and ensure that offenders are held accountable.”
WAMAC argues that the creation of a dedicated taskforce, rather than relying on periodic raids, would offer more consistent protection for traders and curb the illegal activities of fraudulent agents.
As the situation unfolds, many are hopeful that the government will continue to take decisive action to safeguard the livelihoods of Ebonyi’s traders, who have long suffered at the hands of corrupt individuals posing as legitimate revenue collectors.