FENRAD Condemns High Taxation On Tricycle Operators in Abia, Calls for Immediate Policy Reversal

The Foundation for Environmental Rights Advocacy and Development (FENRAD Nigeria), a frontline environmental and human rights advocacy organization, expresses deep concern over the recent increase in daily ticket fees for tricycle operators (popularly known as Keke riders) in Abia State—from ₦350 to ₦700—without prior consultation or economic justification.

FENRAD in a statement on Friday described the development, which triggered a peaceful protest by members of the Association of Tricycle Operators Union (ASTOPU), as another troubling example of regressive taxation—where those with the least capacity to pay are unfairly burdened by government levies.

The statement signed by its Executive Director, Nelson Nnanna Nwafor, said the action is unjust, unsustainable, and economically insensitive, particularly in a period of rampant inflation, high fuel prices, and rising unemployment.

“It is unconscionable to double daily ticket fees for Keke riders—most of whom are struggling youth, unemployed graduates, and low-income earners—under the guise of revenue generation,” said Nelson Nnanna Nwafor, Executive Director of FENRAD Nigeria. “Taxation must be tied to capacity and equity, not desperation.”

Key Concerns:

1. Violation of Campaign Promises:
The government’s earlier promise to end touting and harassment was a major reason operators agreed to the ₦350 fee. Reneging on that agreement without delivering on key reforms is a breach of public trust.

2. Economic Strain on the Poor:
Many Keke riders operate on hire-purchase arrangements, remitting between ₦14,000–₦15,000 daily to vehicle owners, leaving them with meager earnings. An increase in taxes pushes them closer to the brink of economic collapse.

3. Absence of Stakeholder Engagement:
The lack of proper consultation with transport unions and affected operators before implementing the new fee structure violates principles of participatory governance.

4. Silence from Government Officials:
All efforts by journalists and other interest groups to obtain clarification from the Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Chimezie Ukaegbu, have proved abortive. This lack of transparency raises further questions about the legitimacy and motivation behind the increase.

FENRAD’s Demands:

1. Immediate reversal of the ticket fee hike to the original ₦350, pending a full public review.

2. Institutionalization of a progressive taxation framework where high-income earners, corporate entities, and luxury service providers contribute more to public revenue—not petty traders and informal workers.

3. Stakeholder consultation involving transport unions, civil society groups, and economic experts to design a fair and inclusive transport revenue model.

4. Transparent communication from the Ministry of Transport and the Abia State Internal Revenue Service on Tax and Revenue harmonization with leadership of the informal groups

Our Position:

FENRAD affirms that tax justice is social justice. Any system that places the heaviest burdens on the weakest shoulders is morally and economically flawed.

The duty of every responsible government—particularly in harsh economic times—is to protect the vulnerable, not prey on them. If the Abia State Government is truly committed to good governance, transparency, and inclusive development, it must immediately stop this policy misstep and embrace a tax regime that prioritizes equity, fairness, and economic empowerment.

We call on Governor Alex Otti, the Abia State House of Assembly, and all relevant authorities to intervene urgently and avert a looming crisis in the transport sector.