Protest rocks Abuja as dispatch riders allege multiple taxation
Thousands of dispatch riders in the Federal Capital Territory staged a protest at the FCT Administration Secretariat in Abuja on Thursday, decrying what they described as “multiple taxation.” The riders
- ...seeks Wike's intervention
Thousands of dispatch riders in the Federal Capital Territory staged a protest at the FCT Administration Secretariat in Abuja on Thursday, decrying what they described as “multiple taxation.”
The riders appealed to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike to intervene and halt the alleged extortion.
Speaking to reporters, their spokesperson, Olawale Ilesanmi, said while riders are aware of their tax obligations and have been compliant, the imposition of additional levies has become burdensome.
Ilesanmi explained that dispatch riders currently pay N13,000 annually to area councils in Abuja Municipal, Bwari, and Gwagwalada, but a new revenue collector has demanded N25,000 under the name of the FCT Administration.
He added that motorcycles have been impounded, with owners required to pay the new fees before retrieval. The protest was aimed at urging the FCT Minister to end the alleged unlawful multiple taxation.
He added, “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.
“We riders, we know that it’s our statutory obligation to pay tax, and we have been complying year in year out, paying to AMAC, paying to Bwari, and to Gwagwalada area councils.
“But all of a sudden, another group of tax collectors emerged from nowhere with another demand in the name of FCT Administration, asking for higher tax compared with what we pay to AMAC".
The spokesman added that the riders equally pay a N300 ticket 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 riders suspended the protest following the intervention by officials of the FCT Transportation Secretariat, who met with the leaders of the dispatch riders and promised to investigate the matter.
