Beef scarcity looms as cattle dealers commence strike on Monday
By Adelani Adepegba, Published: Sunday, 7 Mar 2010

       
Cattle dealers in Northern Nigeria have warned that they would commence a one-week strike from tomorrow to protest alleged extortion, multi-taxation, and other injustices being meted out to them in the southern part of the country.

The strike is expected to affect the supply of cattle, tomato, beans, rice, vegetables, onions, beans, chickens, maize, carrots, goats, yam and other food items, supplied to the south from the Northern part of the country.

The cattle dealers operating under the Amalgamated Cattle Dealers of Nigeria, Kuri Development Association, Miyate Allah Cattle Dealers of Nigeria, Cattle Dealers Association of Nigeria and Fruits and Vegetable Merchants Association said they had resolved to embark on the strike from Monday, March 8, 2010, to express their grievances.

Speaking at a briefing in Enugu, the Enugu State capital on Friday, spokesperson of the aggrieved unions, Abdulahi Shutalim, said their members bought goods from the North where they paid all official levies and yet they were subjected to extortion and multiple taxations when transporting the goods to southern part of the country.



Shutalim who is the National Secretary of Amalgamated Cattle Dealers Association, announced that all the Northern cattle and food unions would participate in the exercise to draw government attention to the plight of the traders.

Shutalim said, ”If we are transporting cattle and other foodstuffs to the South, some states are blocking us and collecting money from us. If you buy something in Maiduguri and you are bringing it to the South, nobody disturbs you in Yobe, Bauchi, Plateau and Nassarawa. But as soon as you come to Makurdi, you start facing extortion and it extends to Enugu, Anambra, Imo, Abia, Ebonyi, Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, Akwa-Ibom and Cross River.

”We have been paying it. We have decided not to be paying any longer. That is why we are complaining to the Federal Government to stop them. If the Federal Government didn‘t intervene, we will stop the supply of all types of food from the North to every part of Nigeria. We are going to stop until the officers concerned intervene. We are not going to be paying double taxation in federal highway.”

He said it was worrisome that members of the unions are forced to pay N16,000 tolls to bring their goods into Lagos, but even at that, they were still subjected to various levies before such products are offloaded for sale in the city.

He said that there was no reason why the cattle and food dealers who are Nigerians should be subjected to such taxation and extortion, adding that those demanding levies from them along the highways were taking laws into their hands.

He disclosed that the unions had set up a committee to monitor the strike and ensure that none of their members moved any product from the North to the South until the Federal Government intervenes in the matter.


http://punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201003073142315

In my honest opinion, this is a political move!

I say, good riddiance!!
We southerners would enjoy our Fish and Chicken, they can carry their beef and stuff it down their throats. !!
We can do without those onions and carrots.
Or better still we can even import foodstuffs from Ghana sef!!

I am wondering what the business of the National Secretary of Amalgamated Cattle Dealers Association is with "beans, rice, vegetables, onions, beans, chickens, maize, carrots, goats, yam and other food items".

PapaBrowne:

In my honest opinion, this is a political move!

I say, good riddiance!!
We southerners would enjoy our Fish and Chicken, they can carry their beef and stuff it down their throats. !!
We can do without those onions and carrots.
Or better still we can even import foodstuffs from Ghana sef!!

Yes it is a political move. We too should stop Southern goods from flowing to the core North, starting with the supply of oil all products and containers from sea ports.

You see? We are not united in Nigeria. Let the north go joo!!!!!!!!! We keep getting slapped every time. If the north had anything that is keeping Nigeria going, they'll torture every living thing in south to death. Some Yoruba and Igbo fools are still riding their dicks in name of political parties. Tinubu sucks, Aondokaka sucks they all suck, kill them all now kill them all now!!!

Where's the beef?

Anyway, even though I do enjoy beef, fish and chicken will be ok.

Islamic Mentality=Heinous Mentality

Let them stop that nonsence, Were southerners who carry Kolanut to the north not taxed? well let see how far they can hold unto this.

I find it amazing that no one has dared to consider the allegations of multiple taxations and extortion. We all know thi sis rife in Nigeria how come we all read tribal sentiments into every issue. The future of a one Nigeria is shaky i fear.

Mobinga:

Islamic Mentality=Heinous Mentality

The internet is free but you should not exhibit your mentality here as it leaves a bad taste in the mouth buddie.

Shutalim said, ”If we are transporting cattle and other foodstuffs to the South, some states are blocking us and collecting money from us. If you buy something in Maiduguri and you are bringing it to the South, nobody disturbs you in Yobe, Bauchi, Plateau and Nassarawa. But as soon as you come to Makurdi, you start facing extortion and it extends to Enugu, Anambra, Imo, Abia, Ebonyi, Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, Akwa-Ibom and Cross River.




@bolded.does it not kinda refer to igbos + south-south + benue

Let everybody go thier ways.With oil we can buy everything we need down south,
let them sell thier nama and buy their needs with the proceeds.

But shouldn't the reasons for their decision be looked into? My Igbo brothers like imposing unfounded levies. For instance, the useless Bakassi boys are now taking N500 from every shop, taxi driver, keke NAPEP, kiosk, etc in Aba. I support the move, it is reasonable.

slap1:

[b]But shouldn't the reasons for their decision be looked into? [/b]My Igbo brothers like imposing unfounded levies. For instance, the useless Bakassi boys are now taking N500 from every shop, taxi driver, keke NAPEP, kiosk, etc in Aba. I support the move, it is reasonable.

Lagosboy:

[b]I find it amazing that no one has dared to consider the allegations of multiple taxations and extortion. [/b]We all know thi sis rife in Nigeria how come we all read tribal sentiments into every issue. The future of a one Nigeria is shaky i fear.
The internet is free but you should not exhibit your mentality here as it leaves a bad taste in the mouth buddie.

^ smart and reasonable responses. couldn't have said it better

They should go 2 blisters for all i care, if those hausa fools should refuse 2 supply the south food then why on earth should the south-south supply them oil(fuel) simply. Let see in a year who will come begging. Nonsense!

Who is begging them to stay?? They should carry their useless stuff and go to HELL. Idiots

Mobinga:

Islamic Mentality=Heinous Mentality

Dimwit. . . .

Topic. . .
Who cares, there are suitable alternatives. . . .

@Becomerich,come and help Mr crackcles he is packing his stuffs to join benin republic

Reading this makes me completely contristo and melancholic

^ u r not helping matters.

Kosovo, mehn you dey scatter now a days no be small.

@ topic: I am glad, it will give us the opportunity to bury this myth of the north feeding the country once and for all.

LOL, what we will we do now? Do they control Amiedi, ukodo, fresh fish, goat, garri, ekpoma rice, usi, yam, plantain ?

Hw are they going to survive where all their sources of income depends on selling foods stuff and animals,they dare nt.

This couldnt have come at a better time. But why are they going for just one week strike. Abeg Oga Amalgamated Cattle go for 1 month or indefinite strike oohh! by the time ur sorry ass resume work na Niger republic una go sell the yeye thing to.

Everything is falling into place now, I couldn't have dreamt of a better scenerio for the so called giant of Africa. All that's left is for every one to ask why are we together in the first place ? After that a better charter could be drafted and signed by all leaving no stone unturned.

Is Kosovo Hon. Patrick Obahiagbon?

Katsumoto:

Is Kosovo Hon. Patrick Obahiagbon?

Nduchuks the honourable is from Edo state, i'm from kaduna state, please where are you from ?

I'm a Nigerian. I met edoyad some weeks ago in a locality called Barnawa.

,

Katsumoto:

Is Kosovo Hon. Patrick Obahiagbon?

I dont know how someone can make a legitimate trade complaint, and Nairalanders begin dey make tribal jagbajantis.

Make una tell una corrupt officials to leave these guys alone o! If una go without Suya for one month, una go hear am.

@ chuks
You see the problem is, in the predictions and forecast of many the nomenclature known as "Nigerian" will soon be gone with the wind. So when the entity known as Nigerians ceases to exist are you telling me you'll still be Nigerian ? Are there still any Yugoslavians as we speak ?

pls let us get this picture very clear, are they saying that when they buy from a market, say in kano, they pay tax and levies? and when they sell in another market, say in benin, they shouldn,t pay tax and levies as well? what is used in maintaining such markets? is it the levies they pay in maiduguri that will maintain the market in lagos?  are they saying that if you are passing tru my territory in other to make money i should,nt levy you? so you want to eat the money alone? these are questions that needs answers.

I don't think this decision has something to do with North against South, instead this is just a cry for justice against the Nigerian police . the same concern that i see people express all the time on this forum. Also to the contrary this is a move from these businessmen to look out for their customers because the less expenses they make on the road the less high costs will be passed on to the (customer)southerners. Believe me in Niger Republic a cow cost about $40, a friend has told me the same cow will cost about $300 to $400 IN Lagos or Port Harcourt.