About twenty-five hotels and banks have been sealed in Awka and environs by the Anambra State Internal Revenue Service, AIRS, over nonpayment of sanitation levies, business premises and other taxes to the state government.

 

some of the sealed hotels are, Mumbai Festus Hotel, Finotel Classic Hotel, and Shalom Hotel, all in Awka.

 

Others include, Zaramax Hotel, New World Lounge, Summit Splendor Hotel, Ndiolu Micro Finance Bank, Nigeria Police Force Micro Finance Bank; also in Awka, and Landmark Hotel Nibo, among others.

 

Speaking to journalists after the exercise, the head of the team and Desk Officer In-charge of Anambra State Waste Management Authority, ASWAMA, in the Anambra State Internal Revenue Service, Mr. James-Morgan Ezeodili, said the enforcement was made following a court order on eleventh August 2022 to seal off those business premises for their refusal or failure to appear in court, after being served with writ of summon, as they refused to pay stipulated levies to state government.

 

Mr. Ezeodili also said that the exercise is part of the state government’s resolve to boost its revenue, and to ensure that the environment is clean by removal of wastes across the roads and streets in the state.

 

The Anambra Central Zonal Coordinator, under Non-Tax Department of AIRS, Mr. Sylvester Uzoh, disclosed that the exercise will be sustained to ensure that every dime owed to the state government is paid.

 

He warned business owners and companies not to pay their levies or taxes to anyone by hand, but through the designated government’s account with their ANSSID number, adding that the payments will guarantee dividends expected of the state government, even as he urged Ndi Anambra to support Governor Chukwuma Soludo administration.

 

On his part, Counsel to AIRS, Barrister Barnabas Udemba, pointed out that violation of the court order after being served with court summon results to contempt of court and defaulters would be severely punished.