Illegal Roadblocks Across Nigeria Responsible For High Cost Of Food

The president of Delivery Vehicle Owners and Drivers Association of Nigeria (DELVAN), Comrade Sabbastine Raphael, has stated that illegal roadblocks mounted across major highways are responsible for the high cost of foodstuffs in the country.

Conrade Raphael, who stated this while fielding questions from newsmen in Calabar at the weekend, maintained that these roadblocks, that kept increasing on a daily basis from state to state, also slow down traveling time for the haulage companies.

He said the roadblocks are allegedly mounted by some security agencies and revenue collectors aimed at extorting money from transporters.

He disclosed that in each of these roadblocks, its members and others who offer such services are made to part with between N3000 and N6000 before being allowed to pass through.

According to him, “What our members in particular used to experience is that of multiple taxations, but we have been able to streamline this with the States. Our challenges now is that of roadblocks.

“From our neighbouring Benue State to Calabar for instance, there are more than 40 checkpoints and in each of these checking points, we are made to part with a minimum of N5,000.

“There is also this particular checkpoint at Mbok junction going to Ebonyi from Cross River, the police officers here will make you to according to the number of bags of rice, beans, or garri you are carrying.

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“For instance, if you are carrying like 20 bags of garri, you will be asked to pay N2000 per bag. We have complained about this to the relevant authorities severally but the situation remains the same.”