Multiple Taxation, Abia Bus Drivers Cry Out

Members of Aba Township Bus Drivers Association have called on the Abia State government to intervene in what they described as extortion and intimidation by one man whose name was simply given as Ogaraku in the guise of acting on Governor’s order.

The drivers made the appeal during a peaceful protest on Wednesday, July 30, 2025 to alert the government and the general public on their plight.

Speaking to newsmen during the protest, some of the drivers said Ogaraku who was a former chairman collects a fee of three hundred naira on the drivers each time they load their buses and another two hundred naira as booking fee before you load everyday.

One of the drivers who gave his name as Malaki said Ọgarakụ has been harassing, intimidating and extorting money from the bus driver, alleging that Ọgarakụ and his boys would assault anyone who dares ask questions on the legitimacy of the levies.

He alleged that he was malhandled because he tried to find out if the order for the collection of the levies actuetcame from the governor.

Another driver among the protesting drivers said that Governor Otti harmonized tax which they pay and get online receipt, but expressed worry why governor Otti would order another collection of cash from them.

They therefore called on the governor to make it public if he authorized those levies or not and as well act accordingly to save them from the hands of fake revenue collectors.

Recall that motorcycle Operators had on July 18, 2025 staged a similar protest over multiple taxation by a group of persons who claimed to be carrying out the governor’s order.

The okada rider who came from Umuode village Osisioma alleged that a team of revenue collectors has been forcefully colleting money from them for daily ticket.

They alleged that this team impounded motorcycles which the owners had to pay ten thousand to get back their motorcycles.

According to them, when they reported the matter to the Mayor of Osisioma Local Government Area, he promised to stop it but to their surprise, the act has continued.

They wondered if the state has lifted the ban on commercial motorcycles which would make the government to begin collection of daily tickets from them.