The Federal Inland Revenue (FIRS) has sealed 19 companies over their failure to fulfil their tax obligations. In Lagos, the FIRS enforcement team, on Wednesday, sealed the premises of Seabulk Offshore Operations Nigeria Limited at 11A, Grace Anjos Drive in Lekki over a tax debt of N34.546million. It also sealed De Rembrandt Hotel (formerly Renaissance Hotel), Ikeja, which owes N30.60million.

The tax agency’s team, led by Bukar Umar, on Tuesday, sealed the premises of Associated Port and Marine Development Company at 7B, Oranyan Street, Apapa, over N12.5million unpaid tax. Also sealed were Kunoch Limited in Ikoyi, which has a tax debt of N34.3million; Jinhua Group Limited in Ibeju Lekki, which owes tax liabilities of N3.1billion.

The team equally sealed Anisha Enterprises in Apapa, which owes N24 million; and Citeco Global in Ikeja, which owes N99 million.

In Port Harcourt, the tax agency, on Monday, shut the offices of Benek Engineering Company Limited at Rumuodara over unremitted Value Added Tax of N137,961,981.53 dating back to 2014. It also sealed Arena Event Centre, which owes N25,063,999.10. The team in Port Harcourt, led by Mrs. Anita Erinne, equally sealed the offices of DSV Pipetronix LTD at Rumuibekwe Housing Estate. The company is indebted to the tune of N99,814,873.00. Another affected firm is

Red Transport and Logistics. The company, which operates from Trans-Amadi Industrial Layout failed to remit Value Added Tax totaling N1,918,764,246.00. It equally shut Otopus Clan Nigeria Limited over a debt of N198,775,513.55.

In Warri, Delta State, the FIRS team sealed Golden Tulip Hotel, Ashinmo Resources, Hotel De Great, West African Pumping Services Limited, Sam- Pira International Limited and Bridge View Hotel, among others.

Mrs. Erinne advised the affected companies to pay the tax debts, so they could resume operations.

“The companies should endeavour to pay their tax debts so they could resume operations.

“We are not punishing you. Once you comply with payments we will come and unseal,” she said.