The Enugu State Board of Internal Revenue sealed some parts of Ogige Market in Nsukka on Tuesday for the alleged failure of some traders to pay the newly approved N21,000 annual fee.

The board’s executive chairman, Emmanuel Nnamani, made this known in an interview with journalists in Nsukka.

He said the state governor, Peter Mbah, approved the annual fee.

The chairman, who did not state the old fee, warned that the government would prosecute anybody who would re-open the sections of the market without authorisation.

“The board sealed some parts of the market, and until traders in the areas pay the fee, the seal will remain,” he stated, warning, “Anybody who unseals it without the board’s approval will be prosecuted.”

Reacting, a trader, who spoke anonymously, said others failed to pay because the fee was increased from N3,000 to N21,000.

“Since Mr Mbah assumed office in 2023, he said that every trader in the market would pay N21,000 annually to help his administration develop the state.

“Traders are reluctant to pay because the increase is too much from the N3,000 we used to pay during the tenure of former Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi,” the trader said.

Ngozi Ozioko, chairman of the Ogige Market Amalgamated Traders Association, Nsukka, said the decision made traders aware that the government was serious about the fee payment.

Ms Ozioko said, “I know the economy is hard, but traders can pay the fee in instalments, as it is not compulsory for them to pay it at once.

“I am appealing to the Internal Revenue Board to give us a little time, as traders are now rushing to pay the government-approved fee.”

The board officials used red tape to seal some parts of Ogige Market on Tuesday.

A statement: “Sealed by Enugu State Internal Revenue. Unauthorised Unsealing Will Attract Prosecution” was written on the seal.

(NAN)