Hamzat pledges to abolish extralegal levies, empower Small Businesses in Lagos

Lagos State Deputy Governor and All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Obafemi Hamzat, has promised to eradicate illegal and untraceable levies across the state to foster a more predictable economic environment for local enterprises.

Speaking on Thursday at The Platform, an Independence Day public dialogue hosted by Covenant Christian Centre, Hamzat stressed that local businesses should be spared the burden of arbitrary and unauthorized collections so they can launch, sustain operations, and expand.

“Our goal is to ensure that any levy that is unauthorized, unrecognized, or untraceable is completely scrapped,” Hamzat declared. He highlighted the need for revenue transparency, insisting that entrepreneurs should have a clear breakdown of their financial obligations to enable proper budgeting.

To curb double taxation and conflicting demands, Hamzat revealed plans to establish a dedicated economic council that will align state and local government revenue systems. He emphasized that informal enforcement on public roads must cease entirely.

“No individual should be stationed at street junctions collecting money from anyone,” he said. “Businesses must have clarity on what they owe. Once payment is made, they must be left alone. We cannot keep pulling the rug out from under our entrepreneurs.”

Beyond fiscal reforms, the deputy governor outlined plans to strengthen the small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) sector through hands-on capacity building. He noted that operational collapses often stem from managerial deficits rather than poor profitability.

“We have observed that many SMEs fold up not due to lack of revenue, but because of poor bookkeeping and inadequate human resource management,” Hamzat explained, noting that the state will expand training programs and leverage partnerships between the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF) and the King’s Trust.

Hamzat secured the APC governorship ticket in May after an overwhelming primary victory, securing 657,917 votes against his sole challenger, Lanre Jim-Kamal, who garnered one vote, following the withdrawal of fellow aspirant Samuel Ajose.

Anchoring his campaign on a comprehensive policy blueprint titled “My Lagos Dream,” Hamzat affirmed that his administration will prioritize job creation, healthcare, education, security, and critical infrastructure to cement the state’s status as Africa’s premier commercial hub.