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“FCTA Bows To Pressure, Suspends Drivers And Riders Levy After Protest Over Multiple Taxation”.
The Transportation Secretariat of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has halted the enforcement of its Drivers and Riders Permit Levy pending further discussions with stakeholders.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The directive was conveyed by the Mandate Secretary of the secretariat, Dr. Chinedum Elechi, in a letter addressed to the Managing Director of First Capital Cargo Ltd, the company contracted to handle the levy’s collection.
The letter, obtained in Abuja on Monday, February 23, stated that the suspension followed a meeting with leaders of dispatch riders operating within the Federal Capital Territory.
Elechi explained that the move became necessary after concerns were raised about alleged multiple taxation by different authorities.
“Following the meeting with the leaders of the Association of Dispatch Riders in the FCT and the concerns of multiple taxation raised during the engagement, you are hereby directed to suspend enforcement of the Drivers and Riders Permit Levy pending further consultations with relevant stakeholders. Please ensure full compliance with this directive,” the letter stated.
The development comes days after dispatch riders staged a protest at the FCT Administration Secretariat on February 19, decrying what they described as multiple taxation.
The riders, who gathered in large numbers, appealed to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike to intervene and put an end to what they termed extortion.
According to them, they already pay an annual levy of ₦13,000 to the Abuja Municipal Area Council, as well as to the Bwari and Gwagwalada Area Councils. They argued that the newly introduced ₦25,000 permit levy by the FCT Transportation Secretariat would add to their financial strain.
They further noted that they are charged ₦300 each time they enter a market in Abuja, insisting that the combined fees amount to multiple taxation.
The suspension of enforcement is expected to open the door for broader consultations aimed at addressing the concerns raised by the riders.
Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, says the state has mapped out 22,435 hectares of degraded land for restoration under the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project using modern geospatial mapping technology.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
He said the initiative is part of efforts to strengthen climate resilience, tackle environmental degradation, and promote sustainable land use in the state.
Speaking at the ACReSAL mid-term review meeting in Kaduna through the Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Abubakar Buba, the governor explained that the use of geospatial tools has made it possible to accurately identify affected areas for targeted intervention.
He added that the project is not only focused on land recovery but also on boosting agricultural output and improving livelihoods in affected communities.
Sani also noted that the state is supporting the programme with empowerment initiatives, including training over 500 women, youths, and school feeding vendors in biomass briquette production.
According to him, the effort is already helping to reduce dependence on firewood while creating alternative sources of income for beneficiaries.
President Tinubu has given full backing for the implementation of the ₦68.32 trillion 2026 budget after signing the Appropriation Bill passed by the National Assembly into law.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
He also approved an amendment extending the lifespan of the 2025 budget from March 31 to June 30, 2026, to ensure completion of ongoing capital projects nationwide.
Under the 2026 fiscal plan, ₦4.799 trillion is set aside for statutory transfers, ₦15.8 trillion for debt servicing, ₦15.4 trillion for recurrent spending, while ₦32.2 trillion goes to capital projects—about half of the total budget.
The focus, according to the administration, is on infrastructure development, security, and growth-driven investments aimed at improving living standards.
Speaking on the development, presidential aide Bayo Onanuga said the extension of the 2025 budget will help ensure full use of allocated funds, especially for major ongoing projects.
Tinubu directed all ministries, departments, and agencies to ensure transparency, discipline, and value-for-money in implementing the budget, while praising the National Assembly for its swift passage of the bill.
He also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to economic reforms, revenue growth, job creation, and social welfare improvements.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State has described moves to prosecute former Senate President Bukola Saraki and former Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed over alleged culpable homicide as an attempt to reopen the 2018 Offa robbery tragedy for political purposes.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
In a statement on Friday, the party’s spokesperson, Olusegun Adewara, said the development is a disturbing and dangerous politicisation of a case they claim has already been addressed through judicial processes.
He warned against dragging the state into fresh tension, accusing the state government of attempting to revive old allegations for political advantage.
Adewara said the PDP would not remain silent while what he called “political narratives” are used to influence public perception around a tragic incident that claimed multiple lives in Offa in 2018.
He also urged residents, especially affected families, not to allow their pain to be used for political gains, insisting it is unjust to associate Saraki with the crime.
The party further alleged that the move is aimed at distracting attention from governance challenges in the state.
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