ASABA/Nigeria: In continuation of its ground rent recovery drive, the Delta State Taskforce on Ground Rent has sealed off over 10 business premises in Warri, the commercial city, and some nearby Local Government areas of the state.
The affected business premises are located in Warri South, Uwvie, Sapele and Okpe Local Government areas in the state.
The Chairman of the Taskforce on Ground Rent, Mr. Paul Esejor, said that the exercise followed the nonpayment of ground rent owed the state government by the defaulters.
He revealed that the defaulting owners of the business outfits also failed to comply with the order of the Revenue Court to appear before it to defend their inability to meet up with statutory requirements.
Mr. Esejor added that the taskforce had exhausted all legal processes at its disposal, including the serving of ground rent demand notices, before embarking on the sealing off exercise.
He stressed that the owners of the affected business premises should not blame the state government for the action taken against them, but themselves, warning that anyone caught tampering with the seal would face more stringent penalties.
A representative of the Revenue Court in Warri, Mrs. Francisca Okwuwunze, advised defaulters, especially those whose business operations had been so affected, to pay up their rental fees to ensure reopening.
The business outfits sealed off included companies and private schools, some of which were Awarite Nig. Ltd., A & E Petroleum, P.I. Mofi and Faith Academy, among others.
Ground rent is an annual payment to the state government by owners of property within the state and falls due on January 1, every year.
