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Tag: extortion

  • FG moves to end extortion on highways

    FG moves to end extortion on highways

    Disturbed over series of complaints received due to extortion and multiple vehicular taxes imposed by agents alleged to be working with Local Governments Areas on Federal Highways, the Ministry of Transportation, has announced readiness to partner the Joint Mobile Sanitation Agency of Nigeria (JOMSAN), in a bid to sanitise the system.

    The Minister of State for Transportation, Gbemisola Saraki, gave the assurance in a statement issued by JOMSAN President, Dr. Nnamdi Ogbogbo, after a courtesy visit to the ministry.

    Saraki who was represented by the Director, Road Transport and Mass Transit Administration, Mrs. Esther Ehigie, said the issue of extortion and double taxation on vehicles has raised serious concerns for the ministry.

    While noting that there’s need for regulations, she disclosed that the ministry is currently working on a transformation program that will help address issues of multiple taxation especially on vehicles transporting food products on federal highways.

    She said: “The issues are not new; the ministry has been bombarded many times with complaints. Around November, some people who are victims of extortion came here to complain. It’s something the ministry is looking into.

    “I want to let us know that the ministry is really working on it. Similar proposals have been coming in on how to curb the extortion on Federal Highways.

    “There’s need for regulations. The minister is very concerned about this and other issues.

    “The minister is coming up with a transformation program because the road subsector, as you know is very important because it carries over 90 per cent of our movements.

    “Currently, work is ongoing on different aspect to come out with a road transportation program which will look into all these issues you have raised.”

  • NSCDC, JAMB partner to check illegal CBT centers, extortion in Akwa Ibom

    NSCDC, JAMB partner to check illegal CBT centers, extortion in Akwa Ibom

    Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) has agreed to partner the Joint Admission Matriculation Board (JAMB) in Akwa Ibom to ensure that no illegal CBT centre is allowed to operate in the state. State Commandant of the Corps, Mr. Adeyinka Ayinla, said this when he visited the State Coordinator of JAMB, Mr. Oboh Joseph in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital. Ayinla said that intelligence reports have revealed that some CBT centres charged candidates more than the N4000 registration fees stipulated by JAMB and assured candidates that the Corps would collaborate with JAMB to ensure that candidates were not unduly shortchanged. He said, “The issue of extortion of JAMB candidates is becoming too rampant in the country. JAMB is collecting N4000 for form but some organizations will charge candidates N6000 this has to stop. “We must enforce compliance that candidates pay only N4000 as stipulated by JAMB. All illegal CBT centres must stop all this activity. “All these touts, illegal CBT centres in the state must be closed immediately. We don’t want that to continue. We will be going round CBT centres to enforce compliance. “We have to be on surveillance, you may not identify us because we may not put on this uniform. Every day, you will be getting reports, I can assure you. “The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps under the leadership of the Commandant General, we are ready to partner with you to enforce compliance.’’ In his remarks, the State Coordinator of JAMB, Mr. Oboh Joseph, commended the NSCDC for their doggedness, resilience, and commitment to maintaining the image of the Corps as according to him, personnel posted to work with him in JAMB office have shown competence worthy of commendation. He confirmed that some CBT centres were actually charging above JAMB stipulated registration fees of N4000, stressing that the Board was doing everything possible to ensure that candidates were not being overcharged. The state coordinator disclosed that only 13 approved CBT centres were in the state, stressing that the number was grossly inadequate for the state and appealed to the state government to create more CBT centres to accommodate the candidates applying for JAMB in the state. He said, “In Akwa Ibom Polytechnic, Ikot Asurua, they can create three centres also. If the government has up to nine centres then the private centres can now support. Not private taking the lead. “The State Government has the capacity to set up adequate CBT centres across the state. All state-owned educational institutions should set up CBT centres. It will not be good for Akwa Ibom candidates to register here and write their examinations outside the state. ”We have 13 approved CBT registration centres in Akwa Ibom State. The CBT centres we have in the state are grossly inadequate because we have discovered that after registration, some candidates might be posted to another state. “If the state government can come up, they should come up and create more centres. Like Ibom E-Library, they should create up to three centers there.’’ He urged candidates to avail themselves of the opportunity given to them by doing their registration in the JAMB office nearest to them.