Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo has banned movement of cattle on foot in every part of Anambra State.
Soludo, who met with members of Anambra State Cattle Menace Committee at the Government House, Awka said the ban was in compliance with the 2021 anti-open grazing law of the State, adding that enforcement would begin from September.
“Now that we have a law banning open grazing, the law enforcement agents have been directed to implement it.
“Though the law has been in existence since almost one year ago, cattle rearers keep parading certain areas in the State in contravention to the law,” Soludo said.
Also, In its drive to generate enough revenue, the Anambra State Internal Revenue Service, AIRS, has sealed off at least 25 banks and hotels in Awka and environ over non-payment of taxes and levies.
The levies were on sanitation, business premises and sundry government taxes.
The officer in charge of Anambra State Waste Management Authority,ASWAMA, in the Anambra State Internal Revenue Service, Mr. James-Morgan Ezeodili, told journalists in Awka, that the enforcement was made following a court order on 11th August 2022 to seal off those business premises for their refusal or failure to appear in court, after being served with writ of summons, as they refused to pay stipulated levies to state government.
Ezeodili also said the exercise was part of the state government’s resolve to boost its revenue, and to ensure that the environment was clean by removal of wastes across the roads and streets in the state.
Some of the facilities affected are : Nigeria Police Force Micro Finance Bank, Mumbai Festus Hotel, Finotel Classic Hotel, and Shalom Hotel, all in Awka.
Others include: Zaramax Hotel, New World Lounge, Summit Splendor Hotel, Ndiolu Micro Finance Bank, and Landmark Hotel Nibo, among others.
The Anambra Central Zonal Coordinator, under the Non-Tax Department of AIRS, Mr. Sylvester Uzoh, disclosed that the exercise would be sustained to ensure that every dime owed to the state government would be paid.
He warned business owners and companies not to pay levies or taxes to anyone by hand, but through the designated government’s account with their ANSSID number, adding that the payments would guarantee dividends expected of the state government, even as he urged Ndi Anambra to support Governor Chukwuma Soludo administration.
Counsel for AIRS, Barnabas Udemba, pointed out that violation of the court order after being served with court summons occasioned contempt of court and defaulters would be punished accordingly.
