Long-distance produce haulers operating along the North-South agricultural corridor have raised concerns over alleged multiple taxation, extortion and illegal revenue collection in Cross River State, warning that the practices could further increase the cost of transporting food and undermine inter-state commerce.
The complaint was raised by Alhaji Yunusa MU'AZU Ali, National Organising Secretary of the National Joint Farmers and Produce Association (NJFPA) and chairman of the association’s local chapter in Obubra.
Mu'azu Ali said heavy-goods vehicles transporting agricultural produce through several local government areas (LGAs) in Cross River State are subjected to multiple charges at different points, with the cumulative cost sometimes exceeding ₦70,000 per trip, excluding annual vehicle stickers.
Alleged Illegal Collections
According to Mu'azu Ali, one of the major concerns is the proliferation of unofficial revenue collectors and private contractors allegedly operating in the name of local government authorities.
“Mostly in the South, an individual will come out and claim he was awarded a contract by the local government, then bring his own printed receipts to sell,” he said.
He cited several examples of charges allegedly imposed on produce haulers, including up to ₦40,000 in Boki Local Government Area, about ₦37,500 in Obanliku, in addition to multiple local government stickers, and a further ₦14,500 in Obubra.
Mu'azu Ali said the practice forces drivers to make repeated payments as they move from one local government area to another, despite having already paid produce-related charges at the point of loading.
He maintained that under the arrangement advocated by the association, haulers should pay a recognised loading fee at the point of origin, with a receipt covering movement across local boundaries, followed by an appropriate unloading fee at the destination.
Impact on Food Prices
The association said the alleged multiple levies are placing additional financial pressure on farmers, traders and transporters, with the cost eventually transferred to consumers through higher food prices.
Ali noted that many small-scale traders transporting commodities such as bananas, plantains and yams operate on profit margins of between ₦10,000 and ₦20,000, meaning repeated roadside charges can significantly reduce or completely wipe out their earnings.
He cited Benue State as an example of how government intervention can help streamline produce taxation, saying authorities there had previously moved to abolish illegal checkpoints and introduced a single loading fee at designated market points.
Ali also recalled that previous administrations in Cross River State, including that of former Governor Liyel Imoke, had taken steps to curb arbitrary levies, but alleged that the practice has resurfaced under some current local government administrations.
He further claimed that written complaints to some LGA chairmen had not yielded the desired response.
Call for Government Action
Despite the concerns, the association said it had refrained from industrial action, including strikes or blocking major roads, to avoid creating unnecessary tension with government authorities.
“At all times, our wish is to live in peace with everyone,” Ali said. “If we were to park our trucks and go on strike, the government would view us as being in opposition to them, which we are not.”
The NJFPA is therefore calling on the Cross River State Government and relevant federal authorities to investigate the alleged illegal collections, regulate local government revenue activities, remove unauthorised checkpoints and establish a transparent and unified framework for produce taxation.
The association said such measures would not only protect farmers, traders and transport operators but also help reduce avoidable costs in the food supply chain and support the free movement of agricultural commodities across Nigeria.
The allegations in this report are based on statements by the NJFPA representative. The affected local government authorities were not quoted in the material provided and should be given an opportunity to respond before publication as a fully balanced report.