Gridlock in Niger as tricycle operators protest over ‘multiple levies’

Commercial tricycle operators in Niger, on Thursday, blocked major roads in the state to protest over “levies imposed on them by the state and local governments”.

According to NAN, the tricycle operators complained they could no longer afford the daily levies due to the high cost of living.

The commercial tricycle operators were said to have also threatened to embark on strike if the issue is not resolved.

Adamu Aliyu, one of the protesters, said the operators want the government to impose a specific amount instead of requiring them to make multiple payments.

He said they are required to pay N100 daily, after paying N2,200 to the government during registration of their tricycles.

“We were made to understand that each operator will pay N100 daily as operating ticket to the state government under the harmonisation law,” he said.

“After paying this money, the various local government councils will still collect the same revenue from us.

“The cost of living now is high. We cannot afford to pay the two levies to the state and local governments.

“We are going on strike today if the state government fails to settle the issue with the local government councils.”

On his part, Mohammed Etsu, chairman of the state internal revenue service, said the agency has met with the tricycle owners association of Nigeria (TOAN) in Niger over the matter.

“What we have been trying to do is to create a platform based on harmonised revenue law,” he said.

“Things are changing today in Nigeria because people are complaining of hardship.

“Therefore, if there is anything that will bring duplication of levies on our people, I think we should avoid it in order not to cause more hardship on them.

“This is the normal levy that the tricycle operators have been paying, but we have discussed with the stakeholders, including the local governments, that the harmonised levy has come to stay.

“The levy is for the good of everyone and we have settled it. In the next three months, everything would have been fully regularised.

“We have a digital system whereby the owners and operators of the tricycles are registered in our system for security purposes.”