The Sanity Multi-Efforts Forum, SMEF, has condemned a disturbing audio recording from Port Harcourt in which alleged impostors, posing as “road tax” revenue collectors, threatened to assault a driver over an unpaid sum of N70,000.
In the audio, the individuals also claimed that “someone collected N900,000” to justify the alleged extortion — a claim SMEF says exposes the scale of racketeering plaguing the sector.
Reacting to the recording, the Convener of SMEF, Prince Dan Olaitan Dada, said he stumbled on the audio as a stakeholder on the Practitioners of Mobile Advert and Allied Revenue Collections National Stakeholders Platform, and condemned it in strong terms.
“It is high time we call a spade a spade. If we pretend all is well, then our presence here means nothing. Eyes are on us. The public is hearing us. Enough is enough,” Dada said.
CONSTITUTIONAL BACKING
SMEF said its intervention is backed by Article 3 of its constitution, which mandates the forum to reduce roadblocks, extortion and harassment while promoting professionalism in transport; support citizens facing harassment and provide platforms for reporting corruption; tackle corruption and abuse of power in support of anti-corruption agencies; and collaborate with government, NGOs, CSOs and the private sector.
SEVEN-DAY ULTIMATUM
The forum has called on the leadership of the Practitioners of Mobile Advert and Allied Revenue Collections National Stakeholders Platform to immediately constitute an Investigation and Enforcement Committee to probe the Port Harcourt incident, with a focus on the use of illegal roadblocks for extortion.
SMEF also demanded that the platform’s leadership work with stakeholders, including SMEF, to sanitise the sector; provide a safe channel for citizens to report extortion, harassment and illegal roadblocks; and submit its findings and recommendations within seven days.
“WE WILL ESCALATE” — SMEF
In a statement, SMEF warned that it was prepared to escalate the matter should the platform’s leadership fail to act. “SMEF is ready to support, collaborate, and deploy our machineries to ensure sanity returns to the sector. However, SMEF is in possession of full details and information regarding the perpetrators and the platform leadership. Should there be silence or inaction, we shall escalate this matter to all relevant government and security agencies and make public our findings in the interest of public safety and accountability,” the statement read.
CALL FOR VICTIMS TO COME FORWARD
The forum also used the opportunity to appeal to citizens, drivers and transport operators who have been victims of extortion, harassment or illegal roadblocks anywhere in Nigeria to report such incidents to SMEF through its official channels.
Members of the public can reach SMEF at its headquarters, 64 Chucks Plaza, IBB Way, opposite Moremi House, Lokoja, Kogi State; via phone on 08111963351, 08133357222, 08131311888, or 08022299952; or by email at sanitymultieffortsforum@gmail.com.
The forum’s rallying cry remains: Sanity Must Be It — SMBI.
