Idjerhe Monarch pleads with Tinubu to reopen Madewell cement

 

By Akpokona Omafuaire

IDJERHE - THE Ovie of Idjerhe Kingdom, HRM King Obukohwo Monday Whiskey JP, Udurhie I has called on President Bola Tinubu to reopen the closed Madewell Cement factory at Idjerhe and renew the licences of all withdrawn cement producers for an efficient economy.

The Monarch made the call Thursday while touring the facility with his Chiefs.

According to him, "We are here for the project tour and inspection of the abandoned Madewell Portland cement factory here in Otorho Idjerhe. It is 15 years ago or let's say 12 years ago, when this project was brought down by cabals in the cement industry. It had already created over 2000 direct jobs and over 10,000 indirect jobs to the Nigerian economy. 

"As a king of this land, I see pain and I believe that with the coming in of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. A man who is business oriented, a man who is economically viable, he knows the importance of the cement sector to the Nigerian economy. If we must make development of shelter as one of the basic requirements of human existence. 

"And when this place was shut down, a lot of young men, a lot of artisans were working here lost their jobs. I came here to plead with Mr. President to revisit or grant the re issue of the six licenses that were issue at regional business. 

"The Cement industry is too large for one man or one company to deal in, no individual can do this. As we speak of the 500,000 metric tonne that was approved for Madewell Portland cement. Only 50,000 metric tonne of this came to Nigeria. It was disposed of in less than four or five months there's still over 450,000 metric tonne in China. 

"As it is, I and the good people have agreed to plead with the federal government to revisit that injustice that was done to our great son, Prince David Iweta. MD/CEO Madewell cement, that was done to a South South son, that was done to a Nigeria who is business oriented, who believes in the right way of doing things. 

"Madewell as an industry player is being very patriotic. Some of them went to court. They collected a huge amount of money from the federal government. But he didn't go to court because he believed that a day like this will come. And I believe that Mr. President as a listening President will listen to this very important cry and order. 

"The reopening of this factory will hell to resolve the high demand for cement. As we speak, no 2, or 3, or 4 companies can get enough cement to meet cement consumption for Nigerians. So the best decision the government took then was to ensure that there is a Portland cement factory, one in each region that is outside the major players and this the licenses that were issued to them was for them to first import cement. 

"They were given clearance for 500,000 metric tonne of import. By the time you are done with that you would have made arrangement for your production. And that was what Prince David the waiter and his group were doing diligently as at the time this factory was shut down. 

"They only had taken delivery of 50,000 metric tons of the product and what that translates to is that 450 million metric tons were still in China. And if you cannot bring in what you have borrowed money to bring to the country to sell. 

"You can't be talking about production. But an individual who wrote a petition telling government of Nigeria that they have no reason to import cement that those who are importing should be stopped so that he remains the only authority in cement industry in Nigeria. I think it is wicked. I think it is wrong, I think is an option that is not viable, the government ought to know that." He added.

                         #

Revenue Task Force Extorts N35,000 From Teacher, as motorists lament modus operandi

By Akpokona Omafuaire, UGHELLI

SOME men claimed to be officials of the Delta State Revenue Board in branded T-shirts extorted N35,000 from a distressed Secondary School Teacher on her way to hospital in Ughelli.

This is coming as residents and vehicle owners have lamented the activities of these men often in company of policemen who barricade major roads, applying force to extort the public on daily basis in Ughelli. 

The Secondary School Teacher who crave anonymity was rushing her sick daughter to the hospital when the said officials of the Delta State Board of Internal Revenue taskforce extorted N35, 000 from her without issuing her a receipts.

The teacher, attached to a secondary in Ughelli metropolis was flagged down by the task force led by one Samson Igho as Chairman along the Isoko road by Oharisi primary school.

In her lamentation, the teacher said, "I was rushing my daughter to Ufor hospital Thursday for an emergency when they stopped me and demanded for my driver's licence, and I explained to them that my driver's license was in my bag at school, but they insisted that I cannot leave except I provided it. 

"But life first, I have to abandoned the car since all explanations fell deaf ears and carry my daughter on an okada (motorcycle) and leave for the hospital hoping to meet them when I returned, but to my surprise, before I returned from the hospital, they drove my car without minding if i have important valuables in the vehicle. They drove the car to a place they called their office.

"When I got to the place located at the premises of the VIO and DESTMA, in Ughelli just opposite Obukowho Demonstration school, they told me that my offence for driving without my license was N35,000. I then demanded for a government account where I could pay the money, but they refused and demanded for cash payment.

"They directed that i should go to a a POS, were i withdrew the sum of N35,000 and pay cash to them. I requested for a receipt but they said they don't issue receipt.

"One of them said to me in a very rude manner that, after a week if I am caught driving without my drivers license , my car will still be impounded and i will be made to pay same amount".

However, when contacted on his phone (+234 706 247 2902), the task force Chairman, Mr. Samson Igho denied the allegations, saying, "I am on the road and my people cannot do such thing as all of them are parents and cannot do such to someone taking her daughter to the hospital nor will they charge such amount from someone because of drivers license."

Pressed further, he said, "This is not what we can discuss on the phone, we need to see and talk. I am in a noisy place and beside I don't live in Ughelli."

Our investigation reveals that the Revenue Task Force that often harassed and embarrassed motorists on daily basis along the Isoko road, are under the Delta State Revenue Board and often cajoled motorists to make it look like they are working for the governments as they are always on a T-shirt with the inscription 'Pay Your Tax'.

They usually demand for driver license, road worthiness, hackney carriage, vehicle licenses as well as insurance papers. Often, they forcefully evict car owners out of their vehicles with the support of a particular team of policemen who gave them back up.

Their modus operandi in Ughelli is barricading the road with tyres, and causing traffic with the aim of extorting the public of huge sum. 

On daily basis they demand for vehicle particulars and even demand for fire extinguisher, caution sign and as far to jack and wheel spanners. This has left the public wondering whose duty it is to check vehicle particulars, the FRSC or the VIO.

An official of Delta State Revenue Board who spoke on condition of anonymity said, It is the right of the supposed offender to be issued a receipt if truly they are working for government and such money was suppose to be paid into government account and not collecting cash.

“They have to refund the money to the teacher since it was not paid into government purse and no receipt issued. They are bad elements that want to destroy the image of the Delta State government.

“Any fine at all if legally collected ought to have been paid into government account, and a receipt issued. Most of them are acting illegally and have also gone beyond their limits and scope". 

Efforts to reach the Delta State Board of Internal Revenue, Chairman, Hon. Solomon Ighrakpata was not successful as calls to his mobile line were not responded to and not returned as at the time of filing this report.

Motorists are calling on the Chairman of the Delta state board of internal revenue, the Delta state government, the Commissioner of Police and relevant authority to as a matter of urgency put a stop or review the activities of these men who have taken over the duties of the FRSC, VIO with the aid of the police.

                              #