Traders in Nsukka, Enugu State, on Thursday, October 1, staged a protest over alleged demands for repeated payments for market spaces, with protesters claiming they had already paid ₦120,000 for their trading locations.
The traders, according to accounts from the scene and videos circulated online, accused authorities of asking them to vacate their allocated spaces or make another payment of ₦120,000. The specific market involved and the total number of protesters could not immediately be independently confirmed.
Key Highlights
- Nsukka traders protested over alleged repeated payment demands for market spaces.
- Protesters claimed they had already paid ₦120,000 for their spaces.
- Traders alleged they were later asked to vacate or pay another ₦120,000.
- Videos showed groups of traders and other residents moving through market areas.
- The specific market involved and number of protesters were not immediately confirmed.
- No official statement from the Enugu State Government specifically addressing the alleged payment dispute had been widely reported as of Thursday morning.
- The protest comes amid wider disagreements in Enugu State over market levies, taxation and relocation exercises.
Traders Protest Alleged Second Payment
Videos circulating from Nsukka showed groups of people moving through market areas and nearby streets, with traders, motorcycles and market stalls visible during the demonstration.
Comments and chants audible in some of the footage reflected the protesters’ claim that they had already paid for their trading spaces and were opposed to what they described as a second payment demand.
However, the available footage did not independently establish the identity of the officials involved, the exact market where the dispute occurred or the contractual terms governing the allocation of the spaces.
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Wider Tensions Over Market Levies in Enugu
The Nsukka protest comes amid broader tensions between traders, transport operators and authorities in Enugu State over taxes, levies and market-related policies.
In September, traders and commercial transport operators protested in parts of Enugu over what they described as heavy taxation and rising petrol prices. The state government, however, has defended its revenue reforms, saying its central e-ticketing system was introduced to consolidate levies and eliminate multiple collections.
There have also been complaints concerning revenue collection in the Nsukka zone. The African Democratic Congress recently alleged that trucks loading or offloading goods at Obollo-Afor Market in Udenu Local Government Area were being subjected to a ₦25,000 haulage levy. The allegation has been disputed in the context of how the levy is applied, with the Enugu State Internal Revenue Service previously explaining that the charge applies to truck drivers operating on interstate routes rather than traders buying or selling goods in markets.
Previous Disputes Over Ogige Market
Nsukka has also witnessed earlier disputes linked to the redevelopment of Ogige Main Market.
The demolition of shops at the market to make way for a modern motor park has generated criticism from groups representing affected traders and residents. The state government has maintained that such projects are part of its broader urban renewal and development plans, while groups opposed to the demolition have called for compensation and other forms of redress.
Government Response Awaited
As of Thursday morning, no official statement specifically addressing the alleged ₦120,000 double-payment dispute involving the Nsukka traders had been widely reported.
The circumstances surrounding the protest, including the identity of the authority responsible for the alleged payment demand and whether any trader was formally asked to make a second payment, remain unclear.
The protest coincided with Nigeria’s 66th Independence Day celebrations. For more updates on this and other stories, follow us on X.
