Date Published: 08/10/11

Alleged Extortion: Traders gives Customs Boss 7 Days Ultimatum to redeploy Onne Seaport Comptroller

South East Market Traders Association (SEMATA), an amalgam of market unions in the South East Zone of Nigeria has given the Comptroller- General of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Alhaji Abdullahi Dikko seven days to redeploy the Comptroller of Onne Seaport, Dan Ugo from the port.

The association made gave this ultimatum weekend at Aba during the general meeting of the market leaders in the South East Zone.

Addressing news men after the meeting, the President- General of the Association, Chief Okwudili Ezenwankwo decried the level of extortion meted-out on the traders by men of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).

Ezenwankwo, who is also the President-General of Amalgated Traders Association of Anambra State called on the Comptroller-General to immediately redeploy Dan Ugo and dismantle all Customs checkpoints on the roads in the South East Zone.

“We experience high level extortion from men of the Nigerian Customs Service; therefore we call on the Comptroller-General for the immediate redeployment of Dan Ugo, the comptroller of Onne Seaport. We are also urging him to, as a matter of urgency , dismantle all checkpoints mounted by men of the Nigeria Customs Service in the South East,” he posited.

According to the group, the price of clearing goods is now double of what it used to be. They further blamed the situation on the activities of Dan Ugo and also view it as a plot to marginalize the Igbo people who are predominantly traders.

Chief Ezenwankwo further called on the traders to be calm, as according to him, the issue of extortion by security agents will soon be over.

Reacting to the development, the Secretary-General of the Association noted that the issue is a critical factor in the economy of the country. “Traders contribute immensely to the economy of the country. “It is not our wish to confront the government negatively but the Customs have pushed us to the wall and that is why we are making our predicament known to the public. We are law abiding.”

Chief Amobi Ike, the President- General of Abia State Market Traders Association (ASMATA) is calling on the Customs Comptroller General to redress the issue urgently. He also expressed gratitude to the Abia State Governor, Chief Theodore Orji for the cordial relationship he has maintained with the traders in the state.