The Abuja Delivery Van Union has called on the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to address alleged extortion of motorists in the issuance of haulage permits.
Union Chairman, Malam Lawal Abdullahi, made this appeal during a news conference in Abuja on Sunday. He revealed that delivery van drivers and other motorists in the FCT are being harassed and extorted by consultants under the guise of issuing haulage permits.
Abdullahi explained that two consultants are claiming to represent different FCT Administration agencies in the issuance of permits. One consultant, allegedly connected with the Department of Outdoor Advertising and Signage, issues an FCT/State Haulage Permit under the FCTA Joint Tax Board’s name. Another consultant, D.S Alade Global Ltd, provides a Haulage and Goods Movement Permit, supposedly from the FCTA Transportation Secretariat.
The union chairman criticized this situation as double taxation and urged Wike to intervene. Drivers are reportedly forced to purchase both permits at costs ranging from ₦35,000 to ₦50,000 to avoid arrest. Abdullahi expressed concern that consultants are collecting fees in cash rather than through government accounts, raising doubts about the legitimacy of the transactions.
Abdullahi called for the immediate abolition of these illegal permit payments and an investigation into the misuse of Wike’s name to extort drivers. He also recommended stakeholder engagement to standardize permit issuance and conduct awareness campaigns to inform drivers about their rights and where to seek redress.
In response, a top official from the Transportation Secretariat confirmed that the secretariat does use a consultant for issuing haulage permits and assured that the issues raised would be investigated.