ODAHIEKWU OGUNDE, Yenagoa
The government of Bayelsa State has warned youths against unnecessary interference with its ongoing projects such as the Sagbama-Ekeremor road and urged them to refrain from collecting illegal taxes from its contractors.
The state Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, issued the warning on Monday at a meeting with traditional rulers and youth presidents of some communities in Sagbama and Ekeremor local government areas in Government House, Yenagoa.
In a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mr Doubara Atasi, the Deputy Governor expressed displeasure over the alleged harassment of truck drivers conveying materials being used for the construction of the road by youths demanding different kinds of revenue.
Ewhrudjakpo warned youths involved in such acts in any part of the state to either desist from the unwholesome practice or face the wrath of the law.
He also directed the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure to issue letters of authority to truck drivers supplying raw materials to Setraco, the contractor handling the Sagbama-Ekeremor Road to enable them to enjoy tax waivers and unfettered movement.
Addressing the community leaders, he maintained that the government attached high premium to taking the road to Ekeremor Town before the end of this year, and therefore, would not tolerate any bottleneck that would slow down the pace of work.
Consequently, Ewhrudjakpo used the opportunity to constitute a 20-member patrol task force to check the issue of illegal tax collection on the Sagbama-Ekeremor road.
The task force include the Chairman of Sagbama Local Government Area, Mr Alale Embeleakpo and the Divisional Police Officers in charge of Sagbama Town, Ekeremor Town and Aleibiri Federated Community.
Other members are one representative each from the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Sagbama, Aleibiri and Ekeremor as well as youth presidents of Adagbabiri, Sagbama, Ofoni, Ayamasa, Isampou and Ekeremor communities.
The members also include the paramount rulers of Angiama, Aleibiri, Ofoni, and a nominee from the Amananaowei of Ekeremor, His Royal Highness Agbodo Gbaseimo.
The taskforce, which is divided into two to patrol the road from the Adagbabiri and Ekeremor ends to Bulou Orua bridge, also has the state Government Revenue Agent, Mr Doubara Kumokou, and the Chairmen of Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) in charge of Bayelsa West and Oporomor Clan as members.
Speaking earlier, the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Moses Teibowei, called on people of the area to play supportive role to enable the present administration to achieve its set target on the Sagbama-Ekeremor Road project.
On their part, all the youth presidents and traditional rulers who spoke at the meeting including their Royal Highnesses of Sagbama, Chief Moses Magbisa and his Toru-Orua counterpart, Chief Gudslin Toun-aregha, thanked the Deputy Governor for convening the meeting.
They all expressed gratitude to the Governor Douye Diri-led administration for continuing with the project and assured the government of their readiness to cooperate to ensure the completion of the road as planned.