Ogun Assembly moves against illegal ticketing at quarries

By Adejoke Adeleye

Ogun House of Assembly has directed that only the approved harmonized tickets issued by the Ministry of Finance, the Internal Revenue Service, and that of the recognised associations or unions should be purchased by truck drivers in the haulage business in the state.

The Assembly added that order should also apply to trucks carrying sands, gravel, granite and stones at quarries across the State pending the conclusion of its ongoing investigation into allegations of extortion, criminal intimidation and other illegal activities in the sector.

The Assembly said this through its joint Committee on Industry, Trade and Investments as well as that of Transportation chaired by Honorables Oluseun Adesanya and Wasiu Ayodele during a meeting on a petition by Union of Tipper Suppliers and Quarry Employers of Nigeria on Wednesday.

The Union, in its petition had lamented what it described as extortion, criminal intimidation, forceful issuance of illegal tickets, double taxation, and unlawful seizure of trucks by toll collectors.

Speaking after the meeting, the House Committee directed that other fees paid aside those earlier stated should be stopped immediately as thorough investigation would be conducted on the matter.

The House Committee warned all illegal agents issuing unauthorized tickets at quarries across Ogun state to stop immediately.

It also directed the deployment of task force members to all the quarries in the State to enforce the Assembly’s directive.

The Committee also invited the Permanent Secretaries of the State Ministries of Industry, Trade and Investment, Transportation, Environment, as well as a senior Director from the Ministry of Finance, to appear before the Assembly on Tuesday, October 20, for further investigation into the legality of the tickets being issued at quarries across the State.