Traders in Imo State under the auspices of Imo State Amalgamated Marketers and Traders Association (ISMATA), has called for the removal of Produce Inspectors and Imo State Environmental Transformation Commission (ENTRACO) on the highways.
The traders made the request through their President, Chief Emmanuel Ezeanochie, during a road match in solidarity to the Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, in Owerri, recently.
ISMATA urged government to remove the agencies on the road in order to minimize cost of commodities as their action heightens hike on transport fare which causes inflation, which in turn weighs negatively on the people.
Lamenting, an elderly Hausa farmer, who deals on farm products, accused Njaba IMC Chairman, of exploitation through dubious charges by his boys on the road, regretting that they are being extorted about #30,000 to #100,0000 and above.
The farmer added that the miscreants operate as Agbero, ENTRACO and Produce Inspectors.
“We find it difficult and absurd to resist their entreaties with the perishables on transit, the dealer complained.
However, the Produce Dealers Association Chairman, Imo State, appealed for government protection, saying such would go a long way to reducing prices of food stuffs in the state.
Thus, other numerous challenges facing the traders were marshalled out by Alhaji Abdul Salam from Naze Hausa/Cluster Market and Alhaji Salisu Babeji from Relief Markets.
They begged ISAMATA leadership for protection from incessant exploitations from Njaba local government council, as well as improvement on internal roads at Relief and Naze Hausa Markets.
