The Lagos State chapter of the Allied People’s Movement (APM) has decried what it described as the growing burden of excessive taxation, multiple levies and illegal revenue collections on residents, warning that the situation is worsening the cost of living and stifling small businesses across the state.
In a statement issued on Friday by the party’s State Publicity Secretary, Ayodele Kazeem, APM said traders, artisans, commercial drivers, food vendors and other operators in the informal sector were facing enormous financial pressure due to what it called a combination of official taxes and unauthorized collections.
The opposition party noted that market men and women are subjected daily to various charges, including local government levies, environmental fees, market dues, transport charges and other unofficial collections, describing the situation as unsustainable.
APM also expressed concern over the continued activities of illegal revenue collectors, popularly known as “agberos,” alleging that extortion along markets, motor parks and highways has significantly increased the cost of transporting goods into Lagos.
According to the party, the cumulative effect of these illegal payments is ultimately transferred to consumers through higher prices of food items such as rice, tomatoes, pepper, yam and fish, thereby worsening the economic hardship faced by ordinary Nigerians.
The party further argued that the situation has been aggravated by prevailing inflation and rising fuel prices, which have already pushed transportation and production costs to unprecedented levels.
While describing the informal sector as the backbone of Lagos’ economy, APM said millions of residents depend on it for employment and essential services, stressing that government policies should protect rather than overburden entrepreneurs.
The party maintained that taxation should be fair, transparent and accompanied by visible public services, insisting that revenue generation must not become a tool for harassment, intimidation or multiple taxation.
It therefore called on the Lagos State Government to undertake a comprehensive review of taxes and levies imposed on small businesses, eliminate unauthorized collections across markets, highways and motor parks, strengthen enforcement against extortion by illegal revenue collectors, improve transparency and accountability in revenue administration, and introduce practical economic relief measures to cushion the effects of inflation and rising transportation costs.
“A government that truly serves its people must make it easier—not harder—for citizens to earn a living. Every unnecessary levy imposed on traders is another burden transferred to families already struggling with the high cost of living,” the party stated.
Reaffirming its commitment to the welfare of residents, APM said it would continue to advocate policies that promote economic opportunities, protect small businesses and reduce the cost of living for Lagosians.
