Kaduna state seals MTN, Glo masts over ‘N5.8bn unpaid taxes’

The Kaduna State Internal Revenue Service (KADIRS) has sealed six telecommunication masts in the state due to unpaid taxes totalling N5.8 billion.

The telecommunication masts include — MTN servers at Tafawa Balewa road, Surami road, Etsu road, Globacom server at Shehu Laminu road and a general mast (ATC) at Unguwan Rimi, Nagwamatse road — which serves various communication services.

KADIRS also sealed the Mudassir and Brothers (Mudatex) textile materials outlet at Ahmadu Bello Way due to an outstanding amount of N5.2 million for signpost advertisements.

The agency also sealed Al-Babello Trading Company Ltd, known for selling roofing sheets, iron rods and other building materials at Panteka market, due to unpaid dues for signpost advertisements.

Speaking to journalists on Thursday, Aysha Ahmad, board secretary and legal adviser of KADIRS, said the exercise aimed to ensure compliance among companies that fail to discharge their civic duty of tax payment.

“As usual, we are left with no option than the powers vested on us by the law to enforce compliance. This is why we are restraining on the premises,” Ahmad said.

She said that KADIRS takes no pleasure in sealing properties or business premises of tax defaulters, adding that tax payment is a civic duty of every citizen.

The board secretary said the enforcement was a crucial step in their strategy to meet the state government’s revenue target of N120 billion.

She urged residents of the state to prioritise voluntary tax compliance, describing it as a fundamental civic duty.

Also speaking, Shamsuddeen Lere, the legal adviser of the Kaduna State Urban Planning Development Authority (KASUPDA), said both agencies had issued notices to the defaulters which they refused to comply with.

Lere said the funds rightfully belong to the state government and pledged to go after all tax defaulters.