Enugu State Internal Revenue Service has taken a stern measure against major supermarkets in the state, including ShopRite and SPAR, by sealing their outlets over allegations of failure to remit purchase tax to the government despite several warning notices.

ESIRS officials, during an enforcement drive on Tuesday morning, also targeted other malls, including Roban and Mama Onyinye restaurant, which had been served warning notices previously.

Head of the Department of eateries, bars, hotels, and shopping malls at ESIRS, Egwuonwu Perpetual, explained the agency’s action, stating, “We visited the sealed malls on several occasions to request evidence of payment of the purchase tax, but they failed to remit.”

She clarified that the enforcement was specifically related to the purchase tax on goods, emphasizing, “It is the only thing we are enforcing. We had pleaded with the concerned individuals to remit their taxes as at when due, but they have been recalcitrant, and till now they have not done anything concerning these instructions.”

While Roban Stores complied with the regulations after discussions with ESIRS, ShopRite allegedly frustrated the efforts to ensure compliance.

Egwuonwu mentioned, “ShopRite has frustrated all our efforts to get them to do the needful. It is always one story or another. Eventually, they promised us that before the end of February, they would do something, but we are in March, and the ESIRS have not heard from them.”

Egwuonwu stated that the malls would remain closed until the issues are resolved.