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Thousands of dispatch riders in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, took to the streets on Thursday at the FCT Administration Secretariat in Abuja to protest what they described as “multiple taxation.”
The riders called on the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to intervene and halt the alleged extortion.
Speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, a riders’ spokesperson, Mr. Olawale Ilesanmi, acknowledged their awareness of tax obligations, which they have consistently met.
However, he said the burden of paying multiple taxes has become overwhelming.
He explained that the protest was intended to say “no to multiple taxation” and to urge the FCT Minister to put an end to what they consider unlawful levies.
According to Ilesanmi, dispatch riders have been paying taxes to the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Bwari, and Gwagwalada Area Councils.
“The N25,000 is way higher than what we pay the area councils. We are, therefore, kicking against the multiple taxation that is affecting us directly in Abuja,” he said.
He added that many motorcycles had been impounded, and owners were forced to pay the new N25,000 fee imposed in the name of the FCT Administration before their bikes could be released.
“We riders know that it’s our statutory obligation to pay tax, and we have been complying year in, year out, paying to AMAC, Bwari, and Gwagwalada Area Councils.”
“But all of a sudden, another group of tax collectors emerged from nowhere with another demand in the name of the FCT Administration, asking for higher tax compared with what we pay to AMAC,” Ilesanmi noted.
He further explained that riders also pay N300 each time they enter a market in Abuja.
“This means that when we enter the market 10 times in a day, we are bound to pay N300 10 times,” he said.
The protest was eventually suspended after officials from the FCT Transportation Secretariat met with the dispatch riders’ leaders.
