Enugu Traders and Drivers Protest High Taxes and Fuel Costs

On September 17, 2026, hundreds of commercial transport operators and traders in Enugu protested against what they described as heavy taxation and rising fuel costs. The protest disrupted business activities and vehicular movement, particularly around Ogbete Main Market, Old Park, and the Holy Ghost axis.

Protesters, including tricycle operators and minibus drivers, expressed grievances over daily levies and tax policies that had significantly increased their operating costs. Despite assurances from Ekene Nnamani, the Executive Chairman of the Enugu State Internal Revenue Service, regarding tax reforms that had boosted the state's informal-sector Internally Generated Revenue from less than N100 million annually to N7.4 billion, the protesters claimed the new central e-ticket system had not eased their financial burdens.

Some transport operators reported that their daily operational levies had surged from about N350 to N1,000 over the past 20 months. The protest led to significant congestion, prompting police and government representatives to engage with the protesters to restore order.