Oyebanji’s Second Term: Ekiti Traders Demand Tax Relief, Residents Seek End to Two-Year Blackout

As governor begins second term, residents seek economic relief, improved markets, transparent revenue collection

As Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, begins his second term in office on Friday, October 16, 2026, traders and residents have urged his administration to prioritise economic relief, improve market infrastructure, ensure transparency in revenue collection and restore electricity to communities experiencing prolonged blackouts.

The residents said they expected the governor’s second term to deliver practical interventions that would ease the cost of living, reduce the financial burden on small businesses and address infrastructure challenges affecting livelihoods across the state.

Speaking with journalists, a foodstuff trader in Ado-Ekiti, Mrs Oladele Ibidun, said rising prices had weakened customers’ purchasing power, forcing many households to reduce their purchases while making it increasingly difficult for traders to restock their shops.

“Business is no longer as easy as it used to be. Prices keep changing, and customers who previously bought in large quantities now buy little because they cannot afford more. If I sell today, the money may not be enough to buy the same quantity tomorrow,” she said.

Ibidun called on the government to reduce the cost of doing business by addressing transportation expenses, supporting local farmers and producers, and introducing measures that would improve residents’ purchasing power. She said traders wanted an economy that would enable ordinary people to meet their basic needs without undue hardship.

Another trader, Desmond Kingsley, identified multiple taxes and levies as major challenges confronting small businesses, noting that the burden, combined with high transportation costs, shop rents and electricity expenses, was threatening their survival.

While acknowledging the need for government revenue, Kingsley urged Oyebanji to review existing levies, eliminate excessive charges and establish a transparent collection system that would enable traders to know the amounts payable, authorised collectors and purposes of the payments.

Similarly, Mrs Adebayo Bosede called for greater accountability in the utilisation of revenue collected from traders, arguing that visible improvements in sanitation, drainage, road access and security would strengthen public confidence in the tax system.

“We want to see what the taxes are used for. If we see good roads, clean markets and proper drainage, we will have more confidence in the system,” she said.

Another trader, who requested anonymity, urged the government to expand access to affordable credit for small businesses and upgrade market facilities to attract more customers, improve trading conditions and create employment opportunities.

Beyond the economic concerns, residents of Oke Alaafia, Igirimo, Alafiatayo Zone 3 and Central Zones appealed for urgent intervention over electricity outages they said had persisted for more than two years, disrupting household activities and undermining small businesses.

The residents said they had written letters to Governor Oyebanji and the Senate Leader seeking assistance but had yet to secure the desired response. They accused the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) of failing to resolve the situation, adding that affected households had been compelled to contribute nearly N70,000 each towards repairing their damaged transformer.

They called on the governor to engage relevant electricity authorities to ensure sustainable power restoration and investigate the circumstances surrounding the prolonged blackout.

As Oyebanji commences his second term, the traders and residents said they hoped his administration would translate its development agenda into measurable improvements in living conditions, business sustainability, public infrastructure and electricity supply, insisting that government policies should deliver tangible benefits to ordinary citizens.