By Jonathan Ugbal
Information reaching CrossRiverWatch newsroom suggests that the Mgbanige-Mbok section of the Calabar-Ikom-Ogoja-Katsina-Ala federal highway has been blocked by trailer drivers.
The drivers are said to be protesting in solidarity with their colleague who was stopped by certain individuals who claimed they were revenue agents and declined the truck’s passage.
Several revenue points have sprung across the Betem, Ayage, Abuochiche, Adagom, Ndok, Mgbanige, and Ekpugrinya to Mbok sections of the highway which span less than 50 kilometers.
Before 2016, the Cross River State Ministry of Agriculture operated only two check and revenue points – one at Ayage in Bekwarra Local Government Area and another just before Mbok junction which is the boundary between Ogoja and Ikom Local Government Areas.
However, these two were overtaken by agents and consultants of other Ministries, Departments, Agencies, and parastatals of the State and Federal Government which forced them to relocate and more were added along the way.
On Sunday morning, one of the checkpoints stopped a truck conveying goods, which could not be ascertained at press time. And, an eyewitness who shared a video and pictures, as well as sound recordings from the scene said other trailer drivers decided to block the road in solidarity to force the hand of the revenue agents.
Other road users could be heard lamenting the situation with one asking why foodstuffs such as garri will not be costly since drivers spend almost NGN300,000 on different revenue and checkpoints before they arrive at their destinations.
Watch video from the scene below:
