Business activities and traffic were disrupted in Enugu on Wednesday as hundreds of commercial transport operators and market traders protested against what they described as rising taxes and fuel costs.

The protesters, including tricycle riders, minibus drivers and shop owners, blocked roads and transport hubs around Ogbete Main Market, Old Park and the Holy Ghost area, restricting access to the city’s central commercial district.

The demonstrators said rising daily levies and other tax-related charges were placing additional pressure on their businesses as fuel prices continue to increase.

The protest came despite the Enugu State Internal Revenue Service’s defence of the government’s tax reforms. Its executive chairman, Ekene Nnamani, recently said revenue collected from the informal sector had increased from less than N100 million annually to N7.4 billion following the consolidation of levies through technology.

The state government says its central e-ticket system, which costs traders N36,000 annually and provides for consolidated daily payments by transport operators, was introduced to eliminate illegal road tolls and multiple charges by government agencies and local councils.

Protesting operators, however, disputed the government’s account, alleging that daily charges had increased several times over the past 20 months.

“We are forced to pay exorbitant daily tickets, park fees, and heavy fines if we don’t pay before noon, all while fuel prices keep climbing. Today PMS is N1,450 per litre,” said commercial driver Michael Chieze.

He added that operators were concerned that the rising costs could eventually force some of them out of business.

The protest caused traffic congestion in parts of the state capital, prompting the deployment of police officers and government representatives to the Ogbete-Holy Ghost corridor to engage with the protesters and restore order.