Enugu Protest: Drivers, Traders Block Roads Over Taxes and Rising Fuel Prices

Business and transport activities were disrupted across parts of Enugu on Wednesday as commercial transport operators and market traders protested against what they described as rising taxes, levies and fuel costs.

The protesters, including tricycle riders, minibus drivers and traders, gathered around major commercial areas such as Ogbete Main Market, Old Park and the Holy Ghost axis. Their action disrupted traffic and access to parts of the city centre.

The demonstrators said the growing cost of daily operations was putting pressure on their businesses and making it increasingly difficult for them to earn a living. Transport operators in particular complained about the combined impact of daily levies and the rising cost of petrol.

The protest came shortly after the Executive Chairman of the Enugu State Internal Revenue Service, Ekene Nnamani, defended the state’s tax reforms at a revenue sensitisation forum. Nnamani said technology-driven reforms had helped increase internally generated revenue from the informal sector from less than N100 million annually to N7.4 billion.

The state government has also defended its central e-ticketing system, which it said was introduced to consolidate payments and reduce illegal road tolls and multiple collections. Officials said the system costs traders N36,000 annually and incorporates daily consolidated payments for transport operators.

The government said the system was designed to tackle multiple-agency collections involving bodies such as the Enugu State Waste Management Authority, the Enugu State Environmental and Climate Change Agency and local government councils.

But protesters said their experience was different. Some transport operators alleged that their daily operational payments had increased from about N350 to N1,000 over the past 20 months, while also facing other charges and penalties.

Michael Chieze, a commercial driver who took part in the protest, said operators were struggling with the cost of tickets, parking fees, fines and petrol. He said the price of Premium Motor Spirit had risen to about N1,450 per litre, adding to the financial burden on drivers.

The disruption caused traffic congestion around parts of the capital, prompting police personnel and government representatives to move into the Ogbete-Holy Ghost corridor to engage with protesters and restore normal movement.