Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has suspended daily toll collection from traders without lock-up shops, calling it illegal. The decision, announced on Tuesday, follows a broader crackdown on extortion and illegal revenue collection. Meanwhile, police have arraigned two individuals for allegedly collecting illegal tolls, a move aimed at curbing financial exploitation of market traders.
The suspended tolls affected traders operating under canopies or open stalls, who previously paid daily fees. Mbah's administration framed the suspension as a necessary step to protect small businesses from arbitrary charges. The two accused, arraigned by the police, face charges related to illegal revenue collection, though their identities were not disclosed.
Peter Mbah's abrupt crackdown exposes how deeply entrenched illegal tolls have become in Enugu's markets. For traders already struggling with high costs, the suspension offers temporary relief but does little to dismantle the broader system of corruption that thrives on such levies.
