The Kaduna State Internal Revenue Service (KADIRS) has sealed seven telecommunication masts within the state’s metropolis due to outstanding taxes totaling N5.8 billion.
The affected telecommunication masts included MTN servers located at Tafawa Balewa Road, Surami Road, and Etsu Road, as well as GLOBACOM servers at Shehu Laminu Road. Additionally, a general mast (ATC) housing various communication servers at Unguwan Rimi, Nagwamatse Road, was sealed.
KADIRS also closed down the popular Mudassir and Brothers (Mudatex) textile materials outlet situated at Ahmadu Bello Way, owing N5.2 million for signpost advertisement. Another entity, Al-Babello Trading Company Ltd. at Panteka Market, known for selling roofing sheets and iron rods, faced closure due to undisclosed unpaid signpost advertisements.
Aysha Ahmad, the Secretary and Legal Adviser of KADIRS Board, emphasised that the enforcement aimed to compel compliance from companies neglecting their civic duty of tax payment. She stated that the agency reluctantly resorted to sealing premises as a last resort, exercising powers vested by the law.
Ahmad highlighted the importance of tax payment as a civic responsibility and stressed the agency’s preference for voluntary compliance. She reiterated that enforcement was a necessary step towards achieving the Kaduna State Government’s revenue target of N120 billion.
Shamsuddeen Lere, the Legal Adviser of the Kaduna State Urban Planning Development Authority (KASUPDA), confirmed that notices had been served to defaulters prior to the enforcement action. He affirmed the agencies’ commitment to recover outstanding funds owed to the state government, emphasising that all defaulters would be pursued.