The  Deputy Minority leader  and the lawmaker  representing  Anniri/Awgu/ Orji River  federal  constituency Honourable  Toby Okechukwu has lamented over the alarming illegal  charging fees on  Air cargo  and Agro- Export in Nigeria urging  house of representatives to expedite  actions  to investigate  the alleged extortion and multiple charges.

Following a  resolution  on Wednesday,Hon. Toby Okechukwu moved a motion during the House Plenary requesting the house to embark on an Investigative report concerning national daily dated September 23, 2021, which revealed how foreign cargo airlines depart Nigeria empty on account of alleged extortion and multiple charges.

Okechukwu called on the House to note that such development was inimical to Federal Government’s interest in economic diversification and promotion of non-oil exports and the various regional, continental, and global trade arrangements like African Continental Free Trade Area (ACFTA), which Nigeria was part of.

He said: “The House is cognisant of Nigeria’s huge agro-export potential, with 22 non-oil products worth over $150 billion in export value yearly already penciled down in the new export promotion programme of the Federal Government.

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“The House equally is aware that export is supposed to be free in Nigeria under extant laws and regulations, except for the airline charges and payments to ground handlers;

“The House is worried about the recent report that 11 out of 16 Sundry charges lined up against air cargo are illegal and that official bottlenecks, extortion, exorbitant, and multiple charges are discouraging cargo airlines from operating in Nigeria as they prefer cargos from other African countries, which offer them favourable conditions.

“The House is concerned that Nigeria agro-allied market potential worth over $250b billion is wasting away, while local exporters are fast abandoning the multi-billion dollar worth Nigeria agro-export business”.

Meanwhile, the House presided over by the Speaker, Hon. Femi Gbajabimiala, has mandated the concerned Committees to investigate the matter and report back in two weeks for further legislative action.