The Chairman of BECCF, Zanna Hassan Boguma, during a press briefing held at NUJ Press Center, Maiduguri,
The Borno Emirate Concerned Citizens Forum (BECCF) on Thursday called on Governor Babagana Zulum to reverse the State Government Policies in harassing petty traders on outright displacement from their business points and increase in taxation, which has resulted to a hike in the prices of commodities.
The Forum also called on security agencies to provide adequate security on highways, and desist from extorting money from commuters which in turn, led to marketers and commuters shift the burden to their customers”.
The Chairman of BECCF, Zanna Hassan Boguma, who gave the appeal during a press briefing held at NUJ Press Center, Maiduguri, said there was a need to avoid incessant hike in the prices of commodities during the Holy Month of Ramadan.
According to Alhaji Boguma: “The forum has engaged the leadership of marketers and traders union to plead with them on the recurring incessant hike in prices of essential commodities, unfortunately, during their engagements, the unions attributed price hike ‘to unwarranted imposition of taxes by the state government, demolitions and displacement from their abort as well as unlawful extortion of commuters by security agencies as basis of the hike’.
“The forum observed with dismay while appreciating the huge sacrifices made by marketers in making available, the daily needs of our people to avoid hunger in the state”.
“The forum further observed that there are bad eggs among the membership of the marketers, however, they need constant support from the government of the day. This is due to the harsh business environment and economic woes in Borno State”, he said.
The forum, however, appealed to the traders to desist from hoarding during this Holy month, while enjoining The State Government to relax the existing curfew to enable Muslim faithful do their ibadat, provided that it cannot pose a security threat.
It also call on the leadership of this country to protect lives and properties of the people, especially, during the recent escalation of security in Damasak which is quite disappointing.
Reacting to the statement, the Senior Special Assistant Media to the Governor, Comrade Baba Haruna, said, the Gorvenor’s Empowerment Programmes for traders are meant to boost their businesses, considering the security situation which has affected the economy of the state.
He however, noted that the issue of tax is a constitutional and lawful obligation of any responsive government.
Comrade Haruna, further explained that with the dwindling Federal statutory allocations accrued to the state that has been affected by Boko Haram crisis, revenue generation would further assist the government in meeting up with its enormous responsibilities of providing basic necessities to the citizens in the state.
,