BSM decries high taxes/ levies imposed by Edo govt on commercial vehicles in the state

Benin Solidarity Movement, BSM, had frowned at Edo State Government’s high taxes/ levies on commercial vehicles in the state.

This was made known in a press statement signed by BSM President worldwide, Elder Curtis Eghosa Ugbo and made available to our Correspondent in Benin.

“Our attention has been drawn to the exploitation of our Benin brothers and sisters by the Edo State Government about the overbearing taxes going on in the Transportation Sector in the State. Information reaching us has it that Edo State Government has started collecting N2,000 naira from taxi/ bus drivers operating at the newly built Benin City Taxis /Buses Terminal (Park) per day. And they also pay an extra additional N1,000 charge to Oredo”.

BSM said it totally reject the tax/ levy rate describing it as ungodly and demonic capitalism against the masses of the people in Benin Kingdom and Edo State.

” We want to ask Edo State Government if their intended Town Planning is masses orientated? Is it going to involve the creation, building and development of communities, Industrial layouts, markets, Police Stations, Recreational Centres/Gallery parks for relaxations and well structured Bus Terminals which shall mainly be for the benefits of the masses? Is the Town Planning going to be solely for another extortion through recertifications?”.

While calling on the State Government to ad back matter of urgency reverse the tax/ levy rate on commercial vehicles, BSM also urged all well meaningful Edo people to raise their voice against the 20% community land for cow grazing in the anti-grazing bill presently before Edo State House of Assembly.

” We emphatically want to use this medium to call on all indigenes of Edo State to raise their voices AGAINST the SALE of Edo State ancestral lands for cow grazing, cow colony or RUGA!!!

And Edo State Government should as a matter of urgency, reverse the exploitative taxes of N2,000 naira and N1,000 naira respectively, for it is the masses of the Benin cum Edo people that suffer. Na Edo taxpayers money dem take to build the Motor Park, so Edo people should enjoy reduced taxes of N500 naira”.

Several calls made to the Commissioner for Transport, Malachi Evbuomwan were unanswered.