By 247ureports

Copyright 247ureports

By Chuks Eke

In what appeared to be a commando style, a combined team of officials of the National Inland Waterways Authority, NIWA, Onitsha Area office and military personnel on Wednesday allegedly invaded Progress Markets 1 and 2, forcibly chased out traders from the markets and locked up their shops demanding the payment of their stallage fees.

The invasion which took place in the morning shortly after the traders opened their shops for the day’s business activities, created heavy tensions before the timely intervention of Onitsha South Local Government Authorities which brought the situation under control later in the day as traders reopened their shops.

According to an eye witness, the intervention of the Onitsha South Local Government Authorities led by the council Mayor, Chief Emeka Orji and the council Secretary, Paul Onuachalla, led to the reopening of the shops and the arrest of three illegal revenue collectors purportedly working for NIWA who were consequently handed over to the Police Area Commander for Onitsha, ACP Chidi Nzotta for detention and possible prosecution.

The source stated that on interrogation, the revenue collectors revealed their proper identify when they told the police Area Commander that they were revenue officials from NIWA, adding that NIWA has the legal authority to collect stallage fees from the markets which situate within 100 meters away from the bank of the River Niger.

But in their own reaction, the council authorities led by Orji and Onuachalla told the police that NIWA has no right whatsoever to collect stallage fees or any other kind of revenues from any market owned by both the state and local governments.

They further added that the areas in question are well beyond 100 meters right of way as per NIWA Act 2004, noting that additionally, parks and markets are not navigation activities but fall within the exclusive list of the local government as per 4th schedule of 1999 constitution as amended.

The Police Area Commander, Nzotta later released the suspected illegal revenue collectors to NIWA officials on condition that both NIWA, the markets leaders and the Onitsha South council authorities should come at a later date for amicable resolution of the impasse.

Briefing newsmen shortly after the incident, Onuachalla, the council Secretary lamented that NIWA has always interferred with market activities, feigning ignorance of the fact that markets and motor parks are being managed by local government authorities, under the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria.

Onuachalla noted that as early as Wednesday morning, the NIWA officials allegedly sent out the illegal revenue collectors, in collaboration with some military men believed to be Naval Ratings in camouflaged uniforms to aid and abet the illegal revenue collectors in a bid to forcibly collect the stallage fees from the traders, adding that when the traders resisted, the revenue collectors and their military collaborators went as far as pushing the traders out of the market and locking up their shops.

Onuachalla further stated that it was following a distress call from the traders complaining that they have been pushed out of their shops and their shops locked up by a combined team of NIWA revenue collectors and the military personnel that prompted their timely intervention.

The Onitsha South council boss, in his own reaction, expressed concern that the military personnel did not ask necessary questions before aiding and abetting the NIWA officials in such an illegality step.

Chairman of the traumatized traders who simply identified himself as Mr. Nnamdi, told newsmen on phone that they have been paying their stallage fees to the state government since the establishment of the market by former Governor Chris Ngige, adding that they were jolted by the commando style of invasion of the market by the combined team of NIWA officials and military personnel.

All efforts to get in touch with both the Onitsha Area Manager of NIWA and Commander of Onitsha Naval Outpost proved abortive as the commander busied his line, while that of NIWA Area Manager could not click after several attempts.

It would be recalled that NIWA officials and Onitsha South Local Government Authorities have been having a running battle over revenue collections in the markets as a result of the closeness of most of the markets within the Onitsha South Local Government council to the bank of the River Niger.

While the NIWA officials are laying claims that every property situate within 100 meters to the bank of River Niger falls within their territory, Onitsha South council Authorities are insisting that anything concerning markets and parks are exclusively under their control.