By Peter Duru, Makurdi

The Managing Director of Benue Investment and Property Company, BIPC, Dr. Raymond Asemakaha has called for collaboration between the company and the recently established Taskforce on Illegal levies to tackle arbitrary increases in the prices of food, goods and services in the state.

He made the call yesterday when he received members of the Benue State Taskforce on Prohibition of Illegal Levies and taxes in his office in Makurdi.

The Managing Director who lamented that products that were sold at relatively cheap rates in neighbouring and distant states including Abuja and Lagos were being sold at exorbitant prices in the state pointed out that the development was unacceptable necessitating the need for a collaborative effort between BIPC and the Special Taskforce

He said “BIPC is committed to supporting local businesses and promoting economic growth, however arbitrary increase in market prices are hindering the collective growth of the state.

“We believe that partnering with the Taskforce on Illegal Levies will enable us address this issue effectively and ensure that market prices are fair and reasonable.”

Leader of the Taskforce and Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Youth Organisation and Illegal Levies, Terver Gbenda who expressed the Taskforce’s readiness for the partnership, acknowledged the critical role of private sector investment in driving economic development.

He lauded the BIPC Managing Director for his initiatives in creating viable businesses in the state including a bakery, water, and fertiliser factories among others and expressed his willingness to work with BIPC to tackle the menace of arbitrary hike in prices in Benue markets.

The Unit Head Corporate Communication and Information Technology, Mrs. Joyce Isiaku commeded the taskforce for confronting the menace of illegal levies in the state headlong.

She emphasised that the partnership would help check inflation in Benue markets and also create fair market prices as well as promote economic growth and development in the state.