By Stanley Onyekwere
Thousands of dispatch riders in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) took to the streets on Thursday, grounding activities at the FCT Administration Secretariat to protest what they described as aggressive and unlawful multiple taxation.
The riders, who converged in massive numbers, are appealing to the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to intervene and halt alleged extortion by various revenue collectors.
Speaking on behalf of the protesters, Mr. Olawale Ilesanmi told newsmen that while riders acknowledge their statutory obligation to pay taxes, the current financial burden has become unsustainable.
According to him, the Burden of “Triple” Taxation Ilesanmi detailed a confusing web of levies that riders are currently forced to navigate:
Area Council Fees: Riders already pay N13,000 annually to the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Bwari, and Gwagwalada area councils, new FCTA Demand: A new revenue collector recently emerged, demanding an additional N25,000 specifically in the name of the FCT Administration; and market Entry Fees: Riders are charged a N300 ticket every time they enter a market.
“If we enter the market 10 times in a day, we are bound to pay N300 10 times,” Ilesanmi lamented.
The spokesman revealed that many motorcycles have already been impounded by these new collectors, with owners forced to pay the N25,000 fee before their means of livelihood are released.
“The N25,000 is way higher than what we pay the area councils. We are kicking against the multiple taxation that is affecting us directly in Abuja,” he stated.
The FCT Transportation Secretariat intervened during the heat of the protest, meeting with the leadership of the dispatch riders to address their grievances.
Following this engagement, the riders agreed to suspend the demonstration pending further resolutions.
The protesters expressed hope that Minister Nyesom Wike—known for his infrastructure reforms in the FCT—will streamline the revenue collection process to protect small business owners from predatory taxing practises.
