Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah has suspended the daily tolls collected from petty traders operating without lock-up shops. The move, announced on Tuesday, declares such collections illegal and subjects offenders to legal consequences. Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, secretary to the state government, confirmed the directive on behalf of the governor. The daily levies, typically amounting to ₦100 or ₦200, will no longer be permitted whether collected for government or private purposes. A compliance task force has been established, chaired by the SSG, to enforce the directive across markets in the state. Governor Mbah urged local council chairmen, traditional rulers, market leaders, and civil groups to report any violations. The suspension does not apply to traders with lock-up shops, who are still required to pay annual fees between ₦30,000 and ₦36,000.
Governor Peter Mbah's decision to halt daily tolls on street traders exposes how informal levies have long burdened small-scale vendors. By targeting collections of ₦100 or ₦200, the administration acknowledges the toll these frequent payments take on low-income earners. This shift could ease daily operating costs for thousands of petty traders across Enugu's markets. It also places pressure on local officials to abandon entrenched revenue habits under the guise of regulation.
