Nsukka, Enugu State — Scores of commercial motorcycle riders, popularly known as Okada operators, on Tuesday staged a protest in Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State against a reported ₦400 daily e-ticket levy, describing it as unbearable extortion amid tough economic conditions.
The riders took to the streets and marched toward the Nsukka Council Headquarters, chanting slogans such as “No more N400 daily e-ticket payment. Anyone demanding it is a criminal. We will not pay it again.” Videos circulating on social media show groups of riders voicing frustration over the fee, with one captured statement declaring: “This Extortion Is Too Much. Which One Is E-Ticket of ₦400 Daily?”
The demonstration comes just days after Governor Peter Mbah publicly announced at a political rally that the ₦750 daily ticket for Keke (tricycle) riders had been abolished. Some commercial transporters have reported that related daily payments of around ₦350 continued in practice, while Okada riders in Nsukka specifically protested the separate ₦400 e-ticket demand.
Protesters said the levy adds significant pressure to their already strained daily earnings, particularly with high fuel costs. A ₦400 daily charge amounts to roughly ₦12,000 monthly for operators who often work long hours for modest returns.
The opposition Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) condemned the continued collections. In a statement by Hon. Sampson Ukwu, media aide to the party’s governorship candidate Sir Christian Chinyeaka Ohaa, the NDC questioned the sincerity of the governor’s recent announcement that daily tickets for commercial transporters had been stopped.
Enugu State has relied on a technology-driven e-ticket system in recent years as part of efforts to consolidate informal-sector levies and boost internally generated revenue. Officials have previously described the approach as a way to curb multiple illegal collections by different agencies. Riders and operators, however, have repeatedly complained that the charges remain excessive relative to their incomes.
As of the time of the protest, there was no immediate official response from the Enugu State government or Nsukka Local Government authorities on the specific ₦400 Okada e-ticket demand. The riders have vowed not to continue paying the levy.
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