Motorists and commuters were left stranded for hours, on Friday, in Onitsha, Anambra State, as a result of a protest by truck drivers.
The drivers said they were protesting against the tax that the state government put on trailers, lorries, trucks, and other vehicles that bring goods into Anambra.
The protest, which began early on Friday, resulted in a complete lockdown of the bridge, the Enugu-Onitsha and Onitsha-Owerri expressways, as well as all other roads that enter and leave Anambra via Onitsha.
Commuters were left stranded by the circumstance, and some were compelled to disembark from their cars and begin walking.
The drivers complained that other vehicles must pay their own fee ranging from N20,000 to N25,000, whereas the state government had imposed a levy of N30,000 for trailers loading and unloading goods in the state.
A driver, identified as Odion Omoroge, who spoke on behalf of the aggrieved members, expressed surprise about the levy, describing the action by the government “as the worst the people of the state will see.”
He said, “Violence about the collection of money by the government revenue collectors is being witnessed daily in Anambra state, particularly in Onitsha. Violence is more pronounced now than ever before, yet the same government said it does not want touts, yet touts are having a field day on the roads on a daily basis.”
Although, the police were on the ground preventing a breakdown of law and order, but the aggrieved drivers were undaunted even as commuters battled to pass through the roads.
