Anambra IGR Team Seals Shops in Obosi Market Over Unpaid 2026 Levy
By Anthonia Okeke
Several shops and kiosks have been sealed at Adirika Market, Odume Layout, Obosi, Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State, following the failure of some traders to pay the 2026 Annual Store Levy.
The enforcement exercise, carried out on July 22 by the Anambra State Internally Generated Revenue Enforcement Team in Idemili North, targeted traders who allegedly failed to comply with repeated notices and reminders issued by the revenue authorities.
Speaking during the exercise, the leader of the enforcement team, Hon. Dan Okafor, said the action became necessary after several traders reportedly ignored repeated notifications to pay the statutory levy.
Okafor said the IGR office had previously served multiple notification letters to traders in the market, adding that some traders had openly insisted that they would not pay the levy despite the warnings.
> “We are here to enforce compliance and ensure the collection of the 2026 Annual Store Levy in line with the directive of the Anambra State Government,” he said.
The President of the Adirika Petty Traders Union, Mrs Chinwe Nwabueze, confirmed that the union had received the government’s notifications several months before the enforcement exercise.
She said the union had held two meetings with government officials in an effort to negotiate the levy, but the discussions failed after some traders rejected the proposal.
Nwabueze attributed the resistance to the prevailing economic hardship, explaining that many of the affected traders were petty traders, mostly women with limited capital, who depended on the sale of perishable goods such as vegetables, tomatoes, pepper, fruits and other food items.
She said poor sales and declining purchasing power had made it difficult for many traders to meet their financial obligations.
A trader, who spoke on condition of anonymity, attributed the development partly to disagreements among members of the market union.
The trader said while some members were willing to comply with the government’s directive, others had insisted that they would not pay the levy, eventually leading to the enforcement action.
Another trader, Mrs Okonkwo Chinasa, raised concerns over the activities of alleged illegal revenue collectors operating in the market.
According to her, different groups often visit the market claiming to represent the government, making it difficult for traders to distinguish between legitimate revenue officials and fake collectors.
She appealed to the Anambra State Government to establish a special task force to identify and eliminate fake and self-acclaimed revenue collectors operating across the state.
The enforcement team, however, stated that all shops and kiosks sealed during the exercise would remain closed until the affected traders settle their outstanding 2026 Annual Store Levy.
The development has again highlighted the need for stronger engagement between government revenue agencies and petty traders, as well as improved measures to prevent illegal revenue collection and ensure that legitimate government levies are clearly communicated and transparently enforced.
