Nigerian Governors Agree to Dismantle Illegal Road Blocks, End Multiple Taxation

 The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) has resolved to eliminate illegal road blocks and multiple taxation systems across states, following a meeting in Abuja on Tuesday, June 17. 

The decision, announced by NGF Chairman Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, aims to ease the burden on citizens and boost economic activity amid rising inflation and public discontent over extortion by state agents.

Illegal road blocks, often manned by unauthorized revenue collectors, have proliferated on major highways, causing delays and inflating transport costs. Multiple taxation, including duplicate levies on businesses and farmers, has stifled economic growth, with the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria reporting a 30% rise in operational costs in 2024. AbdulRazaq said, “We’ve agreed to harmonize tax regimes and dismantle unauthorized checkpoints to promote ease of doing business.”

The resolution follows President Bola Tinubu’s directive to streamline revenue collection, with the Federal Inland Revenue Service tasked with developing a unified tax framework by September 2025. States like Lagos and Rivers have begun compliance, removing over 50 checkpoints, per Punch. Analysts warn that enforcement will be challenging in states reliant on informal revenue, requiring robust monitoring to sustain the reforms.