Business activity halted at the Obollo-Afor Market in the Udenu Local Government Area of Enugu State on Wednesday as local merchants staged a protest against a 25,000 Naira haulage tax. The demonstrators argued that the fee, imposed on trucks loading and unloading at the site, was being applied inconsistently compared to other markets in the region.
Led by Charles Eze, the Chairman of the Obollo-Afor Market Traders Association, protesters marched to the local government secretariat to voice their frustrations. Eze noted that transport operators are bypassing Obollo-Afor in favor of locations like Orba and Nsukka to avoid the specific levy, resulting in a significant reduction of incoming stock and financial hardship for vendors. While the traders support the existing e-ticketing system, they view this localized charge as discriminatory.
Emmanuel Nnamani, the head of the Enugu State Internal Revenue Service, clarified in correspondence that the levy was designed exclusively for interstate truck drivers, not as a tax on market transactions. In response to the unrest, Udenu Council Secretary Chika Aroh announced that authorities have paused collection of the tax pending a high-level meeting with revenue officials. Local leadership has urged Governor Peter Mbah to ensure that tax policies are applied uniformly across all state markets to prevent further economic disruption.
