RismadarVoice Reporters
October 1, 2026
All Progressives Congress governorship candidate in Lagos State, Obafemi Hamzat, has pledged to eliminate unauthorised roadside collections and streamline levies affecting businesses and commercial operators if elected governor in 2027.
Hamzat, who is also the incumbent Deputy Governor of Lagos State, pledged on Thursday during The Platform, an Independence Day programme in Lagos.
Speaking on concerns over multiple taxation and arbitrary collections, Hamzat said businesses and commercial operators should have clearly defined financial obligations rather than being subjected to repeated and unauthorised charges.
He said his administration would establish a State Economic Council to bring the state government and local governments together to coordinate revenue policies and streamline the collection of levies.
Hamzat acknowledged the independence of local governments but said both levels of government ultimately serve the same residents and should therefore coordinate their revenue systems.
“One of the things we will create is a State Economic Council where, as a government, we meet with all local governments to streamline the process.
“We know they are independent, but we are attending to the same citizens. No one should stand at junctions collecting anything from anybody,” Hamzat said.
He added that businesses should know exactly what they are officially required to pay and should be allowed to operate without further interference once those obligations have been fulfilled.
“Businesses must know what they are required to pay. The moment they pay it, they must be left alone so we stop pulling the rug from under them,” he said.
Hamzat said unauthorised levies that cannot be officially identified or tracked would be eliminated under his proposed administration.
The pledge comes amid longstanding concerns among commercial operators and businesses in Lagos over multiple levies and informal roadside collections.
Hamzat is the APC governorship candidate for the 2027 Lagos State election and currently serves as deputy governor under Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
