• Moves to tackle‘Mid-Year Permit’ scam
By Joy Salami
The Forum of Mobile Advert Practitioners of Nigeria (FORUM) has declared an all-out war against illegal road taxes, particularly the controversial “Mid-Year Permit” and other unapproved levies imposed on motorists across the country.
In a statement issued through its Research, Planning and Development Directorate, FORUM described the practice as unlawful, exploitative, and disruptive to business activities.
The Head of Research, Planning and Development, Prince Dan Olaitan Dada, who also serves as the Director General of the Sanity Must Be It (SMBI) initiative, said the organization would no longer watch quietly while motorists and mobile advert practitioners are harassed under the guise of enforcing non-existent permits.
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“Illegal road taxes must stop,” he said during an interactive session. “The so-called Mid-Year Permit and other unapproved levies have no legal basis. They only create unnecessary hardship for motorists and disrupt lawful business activities.”
Backing the national position, the Kogi State Chairman of FORUM and Head of Operations for SMBI, Mr. George Dare Olonila, pledged total support for the campaign, listing a series of illegal documents currently being enforced both within and outside the state.
This includes the North Central Permit, South West Permit, Middle Belt Permit, Regional Permits, Gateway Bye-Pass, Urban Access, Approved Tariff (unapproved versions), Niger Delta Permit, and other charges without any legal approval. He stressed that eliminating such unlawful collections is crucial to restoring sanity and fairness on Nigerian roads.
Prince Dan called on stakeholders, including motorists, enforcement agencies, and civil society groups, to join forces in cleaning up the mobile advert industry and putting an end to unauthorized road taxation.
“If your vehicle is ever apprehended over any of these illegal documents, reach out to FORUM immediately,” he advised.
To cleanse our road revenue system, all hands must be on deck, Prince Dan said.
Emergency contact lines released by the group include:
08033726112 (Otunba Mike Osimen Eboziegbe, National President),
07038878075 (Mr. Andrew Oare, Director General),
08038543327 (Mr. Austin Michael, Taskforce Commander),
08133357222 (Prince Dan Olaitan Dada, Head of RP&D / DG SMBI),
08131331188 (Mr. George Dare Olonila, Kogi State Chairman & North Central Taskforce Chief Whip).
