Commercial drivers and traders took to the streets of Enugu on Wednesday, protesting what they described as excessive taxation and rising operating costs.
The demonstration affected vehicular movement and business activities around the Ogbete Main Market, Old Park and Holy Ghost areas, with protesters calling attention to the growing burden of daily levies and other charges.
According to reports, some transport operators claimed that their daily operational taxes had risen from about ₦350 to ₦1,000 over the past 20 months. They also complained about park fees and penalties for failing to make payments before specified deadlines, at a time when fuel prices are already putting pressure on their businesses.
The Enugu State Government, however, has defended its tax reforms, saying its central e-ticketing system was introduced to consolidate payments and eliminate multiple levies and illegal road tolls. The state says the system has helped increase internally generated revenue while reducing multiple-agency collections.
As the protest disrupted parts of the city, police and government representatives were deployed around the Ogbete–Holy Ghost corridor to engage with protesters and restore normal movement.
At the heart of the protest is a growing disagreement: while the government says its tax system is designed to streamline revenue collection, transport operators say the financial burden has become too heavy to bear.
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Drivers are currently protesting at Holy Ghost in Enugu State over what they describe as excessive taxation imposed on motorists.#Enugu #EnuguState #HolyGhost #DriversProtest #Taxation #Transport #Protest #NigeriaNews #NewsClick #NewsClickNigeria pic.twitter.com/1oK75dHT1b
— NewsClick Nigeria Media (@NewsClickng) September 16, 2026