Alex Otti Slammed Over ‘Outrageous’ Aba Traders' Levies Hike
- Former APC governorship candidate Paul Ikonne has accused Abia Governor Alex Otti of imposing harsh taxes on traders in Aba, doubling their levies
- He also demanded accountability for billions allegedly spent on school renovations and market projects
- Ikonne warned that excessive taxation would cripple Aba’s economy and described the policy as exploitative and anti-trader
Former All Progressives Congress governorship candidate in Abia State, Paul Ikonne, has criticised Governor Alex Otti over what he described as harsh taxation imposed on traders in Aba.
In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Dr. Ujo Justice, Ikonne alleged that the new tax regime has doubled the levies previously paid by traders at Ariaria International Market.
Source: Facebook
According to him, traders who once paid ₦18,000 per shop annually are now charged more than ₦36,000. With over 88,000 shops in the market, he said the annual collection now amounts to about ₦3.1 billion.
“The same situation is being experienced at Ekeoha Shopping Centre, Timber Market, and other trading clusters in Aba,” he said, accusing the governor of reneging on his campaign promise of lowering taxes for businesses.
Ikonne demands financial transparency
Ikonne also questioned the state’s expenditure claims, demanding details of ₦54 billion allegedly spent on renovating 51 schools and ₦7 billion on recreational centres.
He stated:
“Governor Otti, fear God and show us the 51 schools you claimed to have renovated with ₦54 billion.”
The APC chieftain further asked the governor to uphold the Memorandum of Understanding signed with traders during the previous administration, which guaranteed that they would reclaim their shops after remodelling projects.
“Instead, traders are being asked to pay as high as ₦15 million to re-acquire their shops. That is an anti-trader policy that adds untold hardship and suffering,” Ikonne declared.
Ikonne demands accountability of FG allocation
He noted that Abia receives a monthly federal allocation exceeding ₦30 billion, in addition to local government funds.
With such revenue, he argued, the state government should be able to provide modern markets with electricity, potable water, fire services, and security without shifting the burden onto traders.
Source: UGC
“There is no justification for squeezing Aba traders dry when the government has the financial capacity to provide these amenities. This ₦15 million shop fee and ₦36,000 levy are exploitative and run contrary to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda,” Ikonne said.
He described Aba as the economic hub of the state and warned that excessive taxation could erode its potential.
“Aba must not be strangled by taxation without development,” he added, saying a government that punishes traders has failed in its responsibility to the people.
Schools Gov Otti purportedly renovated with N54bn emerge
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that former executive secretary of the National Agricultural Lands Development Authority (NALDA), Prince Paul Ikonne, had openly questioned the Abia State government’s claim of spending ₦54 billion on refurbishing and constructing public schools.
He described the figure as implausible and unsupported by the realities on the ground.
Addressing stakeholders in Ukwa through his media aide, Ujo Justice, PhD, Ikonne voiced deep frustration over what he termed the alarming decay of public educational facilities across the state.
Source: Legit.ng
