Igbo traders and entrepreneurs in Ilorin, the capital of Kwara State, took to the streets on Friday, closing their shops in protest against what they claim is intimidation and excessive taxation by the state’s revenue agency, the Kwara State Internal Revenue Service.
The protesting traders, organized under the banner of the Igbo Traders Association, instructed their members, particularly those in areas such as Taiwo, Agaka, Baboko, Ita-Amodu, and other regions with a significant Igbo presence in the Ilorin metropolis, to suspend business activities. This move came in response to the closure of some shops owned by their members in Ilorin.
Among the shops sealed by the Kwara State Internal Revenue Service (KWIRS) were Chuppet, one of the city’s oldest stores, as well as Ejide and Top Biz, due to issues related to Personal Income Tax.
The Igbo traders recounted that the revenue agency, accompanied by the revenue mobile court, arrived at their shopping complexes around 10 am to prosecute them and seal their business premises without providing any representation.
Insisting that they are not in arrears to the revenue agency, the traders asserted that they are fully compliant with their tax payments and rates. They characterized the agency’s actions as unjust.
The businessmen also made an appeal to Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, urging for assistance such as tax waivers or tax holidays, particularly given the current economic challenges in the country. They highlighted that many of their members stock their shops with goods acquired on credit, further emphasizing the economic strain they are facing.
