A shortage of cement in Nigeria, particularly in the South West geo-political zone, has been reported. This has arisen due to protesting cement dealers under the auspices of Cement Transporters and Dealers Association of Nigeria (CTDAN) have since last week stopped loading cement from the Ibeshe factory of Dangote Cement.
They are protesting multiple taxation and levies from ministries, department, agencies, local council areas and communities in Ogun State in breach of an agreement with Ogun State Government and its ministries, agencies and parastatals.
Four months ago, the state government harmonised the taxes payable by his association to the state Ministry of Commerce and Industry. CTDAN members were given a ‘Harmonised Sticker’ and ‘Consolidated Emblems’, with a promise that once that was paid, they would not be harassed by the government agencies, tax agents, consultants or local councils.
CTDAN president said his group pays over N2.5 million per quarter to the state government as harmonised tax.
However, other ministries, local governments, Bureau of Transport, Ministry of Environment, ‘Park and Garage’, local communities, and tax consultants controlled by the same state refuse to honour the harmonised stickers.
“They even threaten us with the same police that should be protecting us. Our vehicles have been vandalised, our people brutalised and hospitalised.”
