By Dozie Ezennia Awka.
This morning I received the sad news as confirmed by Omata chairman main market Onitsha that E.F.C.C invaded the popular foreign currency exchange in Onitsha main market and arrested some traders and impounded their dollars and pounds and other foreign dominated currencies running into unconfirmed amount. Early in the day at Enugu international airport the agency has also arrested some big time importers from Onitsha who are bound to travel out on Ethiopia airline claiming they are laundering money after seeing in their possessions money ranging from $100.000 to $150.000 and confiscating them. There is no doubt that Onitsha and her business community is again being targeted to slow its prosperity which under Gej boomed due to many incentives from state and federal government. Onitsha as a commercial hub was almost on her knees during Obasanjo era when if not GUO and his fleet of luxery buses its very hard or near impossible for goods to enter Onitsha main market then when almost every item is classified as contraband. Thanks to Okwute who used his friendship with Gej maximally and intervens on traders behalf that pushed federal government to designate Onne port for Onitsha importers. Again today those gains are being reversed rapidly as if somebody is at war with Onitsha traders. We are being reminded of the evil days of before when if your traveling you have to give custom officers heavy inducement before you are allow to travel with anything higher than $5000 and again seme border customs will receive greater inducement if later your goods arrived Cotonou Port. I never dreamed we will ever travel this road but here it comes with more frightening consequences.
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