Damian Duruiheoma, Owerri
IN violation of the presidential directive that allows unhindered movement of vehicles conveying food items, the Imo State government, on Tuesday, started impounding trucks conveying food and beverages for entering the state during the lockdown.
President Muhammadu Buhari had, in his first address to the nation, exempted pharmaceutical and healthcare-related products, food and beverages products, petroleum products, among others.
The Federal Government also issued drivers conveying such products with pass to allow them easy movement across the country.
But the Imo State government, through its Board of Internal Revenue, arrested and impounded trucks coming into or passing through the state for contravening the lockdown order of the state government.
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On Tuesday, over 50 trucks conveying various essential food items were impounded and packed on the premises of the Imo International Conference Centre (IICC) with each of them compelled to pay N50,000 to the state government.
It was gathered that most of the trucks were conveying palliatives to various states in the Southeast and Southsouth.
One of the truck drivers conveying beverages for Nestle Company, Mr. Louis Chikelue, told reporters said their vehicles were impounded despite the drivers showing the task force members the authorisation pass from the federal government.
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