The Imo State Government has outlawed the collection of illegal tolls from motorists in the state by unauthorised toll collectors.
This is contained in a statement issued by Mrs Ngozi Ukaegbu, Public Relations Officer in the Ministry of Transport and Tourism, in Owerri.
The statement stated that government had not appointed any person or group to collect tolls on its behalf.
It warned unscrupulous persons who harass and extort money from motorists traveling across the state to desist forthwith.
The statement quoted the Supervising Commissioner for Transport and Tourism, Prof. Okee Okoro, as warning that anybody caught in the act will be severely dealt with.
“The state government has never appointed anybody or group to be collecting such exorbitant tolls from motorists.
“In a situation where tolls needed to be paid, government will approve of it and at the same time issue relevant receipts,’’ it stated.
It expressed regrets that the fake operatives demanded N30,000 tolls from motorists for offence not approved by the government.
It stated that it recovered keys of vehicles and other vehicles parts seized from motorists by some culprits.
The statement urged motorists to come and claim their respective vehicle parts with proof of ownership from the ministry.
