Saw millers in Lagos State have called on the state government to rescue them from extortion and multiple taxations by government agencies.
They lamented that they were extorted daily on the high seas by armed gangs and rogue security agents as well as on land by agents of governments.
Speaking with The Next Edition in an exclusive interview, Mr Oluwaseun Awodiya, a leader in the Lagos Mainland Saw Millers Association, said the escalating costs of wood and allied products were attributable to multiple levies by various tiers of government.
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He said in addition to income tax that saw millers paid to the state government, they were also harassed for various illegal levies along the waterways.
“To qualify for membership, you must register with the Ministry of Agriculture and pay necessary official fees. Saw millers are also made to pay illegal fees to officials of the ministry without which they could be harassed and frustrated. These extortions push up the price of wood products beyond what they should have been,” Awodiya said.
“Our members pay personal income tax to be able to operate. In addition, they are also extorted by armed gangs, militants as well as naval policemen along the waterways. By the time they land, they are also harassed by forest guards along the way,” Awodiya further lamented.
He said further: “That is why a piece of wood that should not cost more than N500, for instance, sells for about N5000.
“In the sea, loggers are at the mercy of militants, vigilance groups and kidnappers as well as rogue security agents who recognise no authority other than theirs. You can refuse to pay levies demanded at your own risk,” he further said.
