The Kaduna State Internal Revenue Service (KADIRS) has sealed off several businesses, including Unity Bank, Chicken Republic, the Bank of Agriculture (BOA), and First City Monument Bank (FCMB), all located on Yakubu Gowon Way, over unpaid taxes amounting to over ₦100 billion.
Hamdala Hotel, a popular establishment in the area, was also shut down during the enforcement exercise carried out on Tuesday, November 26, 2024.
Barrister Aisha Ahmad, KADIRS Board Secretary and Executive Director of Legal Services, who led the enforcement team, explained that the agency took this step after exhausting all legal avenues to resolve the unpaid Land Use Tax issue.
This is not the first time the revenue agency has taken such action. In August, KADIRS sealed four hotels and recreational centres in Kafanchan, Jema’a Local Government Area, over unpaid tax liabilities totalling ₦16.7 million.
The affected properties included Kyus Hotel, Sunshine Lodge Hotel, Bayan Hotel, and Cloud-9 Lounge.
KADIRS Chairman, Jerry Adams, said the agency had obtained a court order to close and take over the defaulting businesses’ properties until all outstanding taxes were paid.
“As a tax administration body of Kaduna State, we are backed by the law to ensure that all taxes that are due to the State are remitted to the state. But, we have some recalcitrant tax payers who would never voluntarily comply to our tax laws,” he said.
“So, this exercise today is to enforce and ensure that, ever tax payer expected to pay tax to the government pays and we will continue to enforce because we have the backing of the law,” he added.
Adams added that the revenue collected is essential for funding infrastructure projects in the state.
“The state needs the monies to provide infrastructures. As you can see, the Governor, Senator Uba Sani is doing so much despite the huge debt burden on the state,” he noted.
The chairman assured that the enforcement exercise would extend to major cities across the state and urged individuals and organisations to settle their tax dues promptly to avoid similar actions.
