The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has suspended enforcement of the Drivers and Riders Permit Levy to allow further consultations with stakeholders.
Dr. Chinedum Elechi, Mandate Secretary of the Transportation Secretariat, issued the directive in a letter to First Capital Cargo Ltd, the company handling the levy collection.
He said the decision followed a February 19 meeting with leaders of dispatch riders in the FCT. During the meeting, riders raised concerns about multiple taxation by different authorities.
Elechi directed the firm to halt enforcement immediately pending broader engagement with relevant stakeholders.
Earlier, hundreds of dispatch riders protested at the FCTA Secretariat in Abuja. They described the levy as an added burden and appealed to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike to intervene.
The riders said they already pay N13,000 annually to the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), as well as to Bwari and Gwagwalada Area Councils. In addition, they pay N300 each time they access markets within Abuja. They argued that the new N25,000 permit levy worsens the problem of multiple taxation.
