FAAN refusal to remit N15m “Pay As You Earn Tax.” to Edo state government has caused a shutdown of all business activities at the Benin Airport . Huhuonline.com learnt that Edo State Internal Revenue Services, Tuesday sealed up the administrative offices, while the entry and exit gates were under keys and lock.
Thus, many passengers who arrived Benin were holed up at the airport, however some provoked by the unscheduled lockdown, left the airport by breaking the barb wire that served as perimeter fencing to the place.
Chief Oseni Elemah, Chairman of Edo State Internal Revenue Services ( EDIRS), who later led security agent to unlock the airport gates, said the locking of the gates was a ploy to blackmail the state government. We only sealed up the offices, he noted.
Meanwhile, Mr. Yakubu Dati, General Manager, Public Affairs of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), said, the airport closure was unfortunate. Citing Article 25 of the Act establishing FAAN, the official said the Act exempts the airports authority from paying any tenement charges to the government.
