Sachet water distributors in Calabar, Cross River State, have threatened to embark on an indefinite strike over what they described as multiple daily levies imposed on their operations by revenue agents in the state.
If carried out, the proposed strike could disrupt the supply of sachet water in Calabar, where the product remains one of the most accessible sources of drinking water for many residents, amid concerns over the prolonged dysfunction of the state Water Board.
The distributors, who supply sachet water pularly known as pure water to shops, markets and households across Calabar metropolis and neighbouring communities, said the development had generated frustration among operators.
Speaking with journalists in Calabar on Wednesday a representative of the aggrieved distributors, Desmond Okra, alleged that tricycle operators and drivers engaged in water distribution were compelled to pay several levies amounting to N1,800 daily before they were allowed to operate.
He listed the charges to include a Daily Operation Toll of N200, Economic Development Levy of N300, Commerce Development Levy of N200, Air Pollution and Climate Change Levy of N300, Cross River Traffic Authority daily operational toll of N200, Delivery Tricycle Levy of N300, and a Ministry of Environment 2026 Ecology Levy of N300.
Okra said the amount far exceeded the N500 levy earlier approved by the Cross River State Governor, Senator Bassey Otu, for mini-bus and tricycle operators following protests by transport unions.
“Our members are struggling under the weight of these levies. When you add everything together, it amounts to N1,800 daily, which is far above the N500 approved by the governor for keke and mini-bus operators,” he said.
He warned that the distributors might suspend the supply of sachet water across the city if the situation was not urgently addressed.
“We are considering an indefinite strike to press home our demand to be included in the review of these daily tickets. The situation is becoming unbearable for many of our members,” Okra added.
However, the Chairman of the Association of Table Water Producers in Cross River State, Maurice Okon, said he was unaware of any planned strike by distributors.
Okon, who is also the Chief Executive Officer of Marian Table Water, explained that registered members of the association were exempted from the levies due to an existing understanding with revenue authorities in the state.
“I am not aware of the planned strike. All registered members of the association are exempted from these levies because we have a smooth working relationship with the revenue agents and have taken necessary steps to ease the burden on our members,” he said.
Efforts to obtain an official response from the Cross River State Internal Revenue Service were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.
