Niger Govt Debunks Report of ₦100,000 Levy on Petty Traders

The Niger State Environmental Protection Agency (NISEPA) has dismissed reports circulating on social media alleging that it imposed a ₦100,000 levy on petty traders across the state.

Speaking at a press conference on Thursday in Minna, the state capital, the General Manager of NISEPA, Dr. Abubakar Muhammad, described the claim as false and misleading, urging traders and the general public to disregard the report.

According to Muhammad, the agency operates a transparent and well-structured system for categorising businesses and determining levies, which ensures fairness and affordability for traders.

“There is no truth whatsoever in the report that NISEPA has imposed a ₦100,000 levy on petty traders. Our fee structure has not changed, and we have an established framework that clearly defines categories of businesses and their respective environmental levies,” he said.

He explained that the misinformation was the handiwork of mischief-makers attempting to incite public outrage and tarnish the image of the agency and the state government.

Muhammad reaffirmed NISEPA’s commitment to supporting small businesses while maintaining environmental cleanliness and compliance standards across markets and communities in the state.

He also urged the public to verify information from official government sources before sharing it, warning that the spread of false reports could undermine public trust and disrupt peaceful coexistence.

The agency, he added, would continue to work with relevant stakeholders to ensure that Niger State remains clean, safe, and business-friendly.