Ukorebi Esien | March 11, 2026
CALABAR – Distributors of sachet water, popularly known as pure water, in Calabar Metropolis have threatened to embark on an indefinite strike over what they described as excessive daily ticket levies imposed on them by revenue agents in the state.
The distributors, who operate with tricycles and delivery vehicles across Calabar and its environs, say the cumulative daily charges have become unbearable and far exceed the approved levy earlier announced by the Cross River State Government.
Speaking with journalists in Calabar on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, Mr. Desmond Okra, who spoke on behalf of the affected distributors, said the group is already mobilising its members for a shutdown of operations unless government authorities intervene.
According to him, distributors are compelled to pay several levies daily to different revenue collectors. These include a Daily Operational Toll of N200, an Economic Development Levy of N300, a Commerce Development Levy of N200, an Air Pollution/Climate Change Levy of N300, a CRTRA Daily Operational Toll of N200, a Delivery Tricycle Fee of N300, and a Ministry of Environment 2026 Ecology Levy of N300.
He explained that the charges amount to N1,800 per day, which he described as unfair when compared to the N500 daily levy recently approved for mini-bus and tricycle operators by the Governor of Cross River State, Bassey Edet Otu, following protests by transport operators last week.
"We are not against paying government levies, but the number of tickets we are forced to buy daily is too much. It is affecting our business and making it difficult for us to survive," Okra said.
He added that the distributors are demanding that the government review the charges and include them in the same concession granted to mini-bus and commercial tricycle operators.
However, when contacted, the Chairman of the Association of Table Water Producers in Cross River State (ATWAP), Mr. Maurice Etim Okon, said he was unaware of the planned strike action.
Okon, who is also the Chief Executive Officer of Marian Table Water, noted that registered members of the association are exempted from the levies in question.
According to him, the association maintains a cordial working relationship with revenue agents in the state and has taken steps to address the concerns of its members.
Meanwhile, efforts to obtain a response from the Cross River State Internal Revenue Service were unsuccessful as officials of the agency could not be reached as of the time of filing this report.
The distributors warned that failure by the authorities to address their grievances may lead to a disruption in the supply of sachet water across Calabar and neighbouring communities.
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