Uzodimma Warns MDAs Over Extortion, Harassment Of Traders

Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma, has warned ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) over alleged extortion of members of the public and abuse of the collection of revenue. He said his hammer would soon descend on them.

The governor said the reports from ministries, departments and agencies of government over continued harassment of hapless members of the public, particularly petty traders, have continued to question the integrity of those entrusted with the responsibility of managing the MDAs.

A statement by the chief press secretary and media adviser to the governor, Oguwike Nwachuku,  said that Uzodimma’s warning is against the backdrop of a trending voice message on social media alleging extortion of petty traders operating with umbrella shades in Owerri by those believed to be agencies of government.

While the officials of the Owerri Capital Development Authority (OCDA) were linked to the voice message, the management of the body has distanced itself from the allegation, insisting that their mandate does not include collection of fees on the streets.

A message from the general manager of OCDA, Hon Franklin Nkem Nzewodo, did not only frown at the trending voice mail, but saw it as an orchestrated ploy to undermine his office and good job they are doing.

Nzewodo said: “The management of Owerri Capital Development Authority (OCDA) has frowned at insinuations from interested parties who go about creating the impression that the body collects money from vendors on the streets of Owerri.

“Contrary to such insinuations by callous blackmailers who would deploy any tool to undermine the good work the OCDA is doing in Imo State currently, the management notes that our job specification is not ambiguous for the personnel to comprehend.

“The Owerri Capital Development Authority (OCDA) is a government agency responsible for the planning, development, and maintenance of the capital city of Owerri in Imo State. Its primary objective is to ensure the orderly growth and development of the city, focusing on urban planning, infrastructure development, environmental management, and beautification,” the general manager said in a statement.

“It is necessary to put the records straight against the backdrop of a voice message, obviously deliberately orchestrated by interested parties to undermine the role of the minders of the OCDA’s business.

“While we appeal to members of the public to be mindful of such allegations aimed at tarnishing the image of the office of the GM, OCDA and his operatives, the management is also aware that the government of Sen Hope Uzodimma has zero intolerance for acts of corruption and other unwholesome activities that can bring hardship to the public, and will never subscribe to them.

“The OCDA management further regrets that many members of the public have been deceived not to differentiate between activities expected to be carried out by the personnel of OCDA and those of other agencies, and urges them to come up with evidence of any alleged acts not in line with the OCDA’s job specification as the case may be,” he said.

However, Governor Uzodimma insists that the harmonised mode of revenue collection in Imo State (Treasury Single Account – TSA) under the watch of Imo State Internal Revenue Service (IIRS) still subsists and that any MDA doing the contrary will be poking its hands in the eyes of the government.