Kaduna seals telecom masts over N5.8bn tax

The Kaduna State Internal Revenue Service has sealed seven telecommunication masts belonging to MTN, Globacom and Airtel across the state’s urban areas over alleged outstanding taxes totalling N5.8bn.

The sealed masts, vital for the operation of mobile phone networks, were targeted due to the tax liabilities established by the Kaduna State Urban Planning and Development Agency.

The sealed masts include the MTN mast (IHS) on Tafawa Balewa Way, Unguwan Rimi, Kaduna; the GLO mast on Shehu Laminu road, Unguwan Rimi, Kaduna and the MTN mast (IHS) on Surami road, Unguwan Rimi, Kaduna.Others include MTN Mast (IHS) on Etsu Road, Unguwan Rimi, Kaduna, MTN, Airtel, Glo, 9-Mobile Masts (ATC) on Nagwamatse Road, Kaduna, MTN (IHS) on Nagwamatse road, Unguwan Rimi, Kaduna and an MTN mast (IHS) on Shehu Laminu road, Unguwan Rimi, Kaduna.

The agency also sealed the popular Mudassir and Brothers (Mudatex) textile materials outlet located along the Ahmadu Bello Way, over N5.2 million for sign post advertisement and Al-Babello Trading Company LTD at the famous Panteka Market, known for selling roofing sheets, iron rods and other building materials over unpaid sign posts advertisements.

Speaking to newsmen at the sideline of the exercise, Barrister Aysha Ahmad, the KADIRS Board Secretary/Legal Adviser, said the exercise was aimed at ensuring compliance by the companies who failed to discharge their civic responsibilities of tax payment.

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

She noted that the agency derived no joy in sealing property or business areas of tax defaulters, stressing that tax is the civic responsibility of every citizen.

She equally said the agency encouraged voluntary compliance and would exhaust all possible means before enforcement.

The board secretary said the enforcement was part of the process to achieve the N120 billion revenue target set by the Kaduna State Government.

She therefore called on the people of the state to ensure voluntary tax compliance.

Also, Shamsuddeen Lere, the Legal Adviser of the Kaduna State Urban Planning Development Authority (KASUPDA), said both agencies had served the defaulters with notices, but they declined compliance.

“The money belongs to the state government and we are coming after all the defaulters,” he vowed.