by crossriverwatch admin
There are indications that the Department of Public Transportation may have become one of the major agencies of government that generates huge revenue on daily basis to the State government coffers.
Investigations by CrossRiverWatch reveal that the department which was established in 2009 to over see the regulation and enforcement of public transportation in the state has since become a huge revenue generating agency.
The department now has a patrol hilux stationed at the Odukpani/Akampa hill along Calabar/Ikom highway to count, monitor and issue tickets worth 11,000 Naira to each truck that carry chippings from the over 15 quarries located in Akampa Local Government Area of the State.
As at the last count, CrossRiverWatch undercover reporter who was at Odukpani junction from 5:30am till 4pm last Thurday counted no fewer than 1,500 trucks that passed through the road carrying chippings within 11 active hours.
Further investigation revealed that each truck pay at least 11,000 per trip to the department of public transport making the agency generate not less than 15,000,000 Naira daily into the Government coffers.
CrossRiverWatch had also reported recently how the department generate money from tippers who fetch sand from a gully in Ikot Omin, Calabar Municipality thereby exposing the inhabitants of the area to danger.
A veteran journalist, Dr Okpo Ojah, had challenged the government to call DOPT who collect huge revenue from the area without developing their infrastructure including the roads to order.
To give credence to the effort of the DOPT as a huge revenue generating agency of government, the state Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke had commended the Department as the only government agency that surpassed the revenue target in 2012, 2013 fiscal year during the enlarged retreat for the State Exco where Local Government Chairmen and Members of the State House of Assembly were also in attendance.
follow us on twitter @crossriverwatch