Worried by the rising cost of locally produced food items due to transportation cost, multiple taxation system, and the need to ensure food security through the Agro-allied value chain in the country, the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria through its National President Hon Alabi Kolade David and the National Executive Council has directed the Director General of ALGON Hajiya Binta Adamu Bello to liaise and fashion out strategies with the National Anti-Multiple Taxation Scheme (NAMTAX) with the aim of fast-tracking all modalities for the immidate take off of programmes and strategies to end the scourge.

This concern followed the directives as expressed the DG ALGON Hajiya Binta Adamu Bello who recalled that such measure has come at no other better time than now when Nigerians are facing fiscal challenges, and the need for the country to leverage on the Local Governments and Councils in Nigeria to raise the bar of it’s IGR and promote fiscal responsibility.

It will be recalled that the Association’s National President had earlier set up Committee to ensure the mitigation of various extortions, illegal multiple revenue collections, huge cost of haulage and thuggery against the smooth conveying of goods and services in the country through its collaboration with the National Anti-Multiple Taxation Scheme (NAMTAX)

ALGON had for the umpteenth times expressed worry over such extortions, thuggery on the roads in which many lives were lost in the recent times occasioned by struggle and use of nail bars to barricade the roads by way of Internally Generated Revenue and it’s likes.

In it’s meeting at the national headquarters of ALGON this afternoon in Abuja, the DG ALGON Hajiya Binta Bello commended the stakeholders and urged them not to relent in this fight frontally to end the menance. The project, when fully optmized with technology has the potential of generating over 24, 000 new pensionable jobs. It is in recognition of these lofty prospects that the DG also stated that action was necessary alongside building synergy amongst all concerned to guarantee success.

Earlier the Chairman Sub Committee of the NAMTAX Hon. Nuhu Ozigi who is also the Director of Finance, ALGON has called for speedy rollout of the programme through a well structured, coordinated and inclusive action plan in sync with ECOWAS transportation protocol, he called for proper monitoring and evaluation in line with key performance indicators to achieve the terms and reference of the project amongst the entire stakeholders.

According to him, it will be recalled that the project seek to ride on technology through ICT, automated sticker system, fraud-free payment authentication system, surveillance, guyintelligence gathering and architecture, financial interface with project bankers, interface with all local governments and Councils in Nigeria for effective operation, it also hope to conduct a one month training for proper mainstreaming of product distributors and seamless tax-collection basket and agents to entrench harmony. NAMTAX covers all categories of goods in transit on Nigeria Roads, Railways, Waterways and Sir transportation component to bring about full monitoring, compliance and enforcement of zero-taxation of any kind in transit.

Another good news is that as far as this project touches the heart of national economy and divers development, it has continued to gain traction and has not relent in witnessing huge turnout.

In attendance are representatives of the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, DSS, FMOF, FMSD, FMJ, IGAS, NFHA, A Nigeria Police Force represented by a Commissioner of Police, NDLEA, Nigeria Customs, Nigeria Army, Nigeria Air Force, Nigeria Ports of Authority, NSCDC, FRSC, Nigeria Navy,First Bank, NURTW, African Farmers, NAAPD, NIPC, IMAN, SUNTRUST BANK, NANTS, CONSULTANTS, Travel Agents, Federal Ministries of Agriculture and Rural Development, other several representing African farmers and others.