Cashew growers and purchasers in Kogi, represented by the Farmers Forum of Nigeria (FFN), are urging Governor Usman Ododo to address concerns about excessive taxation and extortion.
According to a spokesperson for the forum, Ibrahim Adam, there are claims of a plan to triple cashew produce payments from ₦30,000 to ₦90,000 by state government agents.
Adam pleaded with the governor to curb the imposition of multiple taxes, warning of its detrimental effects on economic growth and the state’s reputation.
“The farmers and buyers of cashew products are being suffocated, and can no longer bear the burden of multiple taxation and undue harassment by the state agents,” he said.
The forum spokesman also called on President Bola Tinubu to direct the Ministry of Agriculture to address multiple taxation, stating that they could no longer breathe.
According to him, the Produce Inspection Department (PID) in Kogi charges the highest inspection fee in the country at ₦30,000 per truck, while other states charge significantly lower fees.
He said that other states such as Kano, Gombe, Katsina, Yobe, Yola, Nasarawa, and Benue amongst others charged significantly lower fees than Kogi.
According to him, Kogi PID charges ₦30,000, while Kano charges ₦5000, Gombe ₦5,000, Katsina ₦3,000, Yobe ₦2,000, Yola ₦4,000, Jigawa ₦3,000, Kaduna ₦7,000, Bauchi ₦5,000Nasarawa ₦20,000, Benue ₦25,000, Oyo ₦20,000, Niger ₦10,000 and Osun ₦10,000.
He also expressed concern over other unexplained receipts and levies, which amount to multiple taxation imposed on Kogi cashew buyers.
“These are interstate levy (also known as haulage fee) ₦13,000, IML ₦5,000, loading and offloading fee ₦12,000, pass ₦5,000, state environmental fee ₦6,000, local government environmental fee ₦5,000, and local government departmental fee ₦10,000.
“All these levies are from Kogi State Board of Internal Revenue.
“There are also numerous roadblocks under the auspices of produce extorting motorists and harassing drivers and buyers carrying these goods cashew from farm gate carrying to the warehouse for sale.
“Some of the boys are even carrying dangerous weapons scaring the foreigners,” he said.
Adam also appealed to Ododo to promptly rein in its internally generated revenue head and reconsider plans to impose more taxes on cashew products.
According to Adam, these plans contradict the ease of doing business, adding that it will deter foreign buyers and investors and impoverish the farmers because cashew buyers in Kogi and other foreigners directly bear the brunt of these multiple taxes.
He added that the tax burden on cashew farmers, who should be relieved during the cashew season, was being exacerbated by the government’s policies.
“Additional unexplained levies, amounting to multiple taxation on Kogi State cashew buyers, include interstate levies, loading and offloading fees, pass fees, state and local government environmental fees, and local government departmental fees.
“All these levies are imposed by the Kogi State Board of Internal Revenue, and numerous roadblocks manned by individuals claiming to be government agents further exacerbate the situation.
“The unnecessary harassment of cashew farmers and buyers by these individuals is hindering the cashew business in Kogi.
“We call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other Federal Government agencies, such as the Ministry of Agriculture, to intervene and urge the state government to cease these levies.
“They are causing undue hardship to the people, most of whom are cashew farmers and traders.
“Kogi State cannot be an exception from other cashew-producing states like Enugu, Niger, Edo, Benue, and Nasarawa States,” he added.
NAN
