All Progressives Congress governorship candidate in Lagos and incumbent Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, has promised to end unauthorised roadside collections and multiple taxation schemes that burden road operators and businesses in the state, if elected.

Hamzat made the pledge on Thursday at a town hall meeting for governorship candidates in Lagos.

Responding to the issue of arbitrary fee collections across the state, he said commercial operators, popularly called Danfo, deserve clear and predictable financial obligations. In his view, they should not face continuous collection points along transit routes from some road transport agents, otherwise called “agbero.”

To address the overlap between state and local government charges, Hamzat proposed setting up a state economic council.

He said the body would coordinate revenue policies directly with local council leadership. The aim is to harmonise levies and, ultimately, end ad-hoc collections at junctions.

”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 stated.

He stressed that commercial operators who have paid their designated official fees should be free from further roadside interference: “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.”