From Uchenna Ezeadigwe,
Awka
Anambra State Government has announced the commencement of reformed border revenue collection for Agric Produce, Forestry, Commerce and Cattle, in the state.
State Commissioner for Transport, Mr. Afam Mbanefo made this announcement in his office at the Jerome Udoji Secretariat, Awka, during a meeting with security chiefs, border revenue agents and the Ministry of Agriculture. Mbanefo noted that the ministry had mapped out collection centres in all border locations in the state using signage.
“We have designed `ATMC App’ to guide the new revenue regime. All the staff members/agents to be working on the roads must have their details registered in our ATMC platform,’’ Mbanefo said.
He cautioned against duplication of tickets by contractors and agents, noting that anyone found wanting would risk having his contract revoked. “Everybody should protect his job and ward off any unacceptable individuals on the road, touting, breaking people’s glasses and creating anarchy on the roads.’’
The commissioner noted that the revenue collection was a one day toll, payable only at the entry point while urging security operatives to arrest any revenue agent that was not wearing reflective jackets, jean trousers and shoes.
He announced the newly approved border Internationally Generated Revenue (IGR) rates as follows: Commerce: 10 tons vehicle, N3,500; 20 tons vehicle N6,000 and 30 tons vehicle N6,000. Vehicles conveying produce: 10 tons, N3,500; 20 tons N6,000 and 30 tons, N6,000. Forestry: 10 tons, vehicle N3,500; 20 tons, vehicle N6,000 while 30 tons vehicle would pay N6,000. Vehicles conveying cattle will be charged N200 per animal and N100 per goat.
A representative from the Ministry of Agriculture, Mr. Mike Afah said, “the new digital innovation for border revenue collection is a laudable one and will solve the problems of the past as witnessed at Amansea border and other points of entries.
The State Commissioner of Police, represented by the DPO, B Division, Awka, CSP Sanni Ahmed, said that it was one of the best thing that would happen to Anambra State adding that the state had been called all sorts of names, due to the old nature of revenue collection.
