Ifo Local Government Area, Ogun State, may be imposing multiple levies on traders operating shops in the state, under the guise of pseudo-classifications of taxation in its revenue drive.
Taxation process is expected to be transparent, has fairness, equity, and rational, but the process in Ifo LGA, particularly, Akute sub-office or collaborators in Akute axis of Ogun State, is one of harassment, intimidation and threat.
Essentially, a singular shop is being served with double taxation of levy demands by revenue collectors in the Akute axis of Ifo local government, with threat of locking up the shop within seven days if the demanded payments are not made.
Also, the amount of payment to be made by the trader varies from one revenue collector to the other. Different officials harass traders in their shop with different levy imposition on the same shop. One comes after the other has left with threat paper.
In one of the notice, “Ifo Local Government in conjunction with Sunny Bright Ventures”; serves “Demand Notice for Food Stuff” on a particular shop.
Officials of this ventures disclose their telephone number on the notice paper for contact and clarifications.
On another notice: “Ifo Local Government in conjunction with Sufash Ventures demand notice for shop extension, kios and container” on the same shop that Sunny Bright Ventures have served levy demand earlier, threatening to lock up the shop when they come back.
Our investigation found that the said shop where Sufash Ventures are demanding payment for ‘shop extension, kios and container’ does not operate within the structures the ventures is demanding payment. The shop operates from a building without any extension. As a matter of fact, the distance between the door of the shop and the gutter in front of the building is about two blocks length.
The only thing outside is the sunshade plastic roof to prevent direct sunshine or rain into the shop.
Officials of Sufash Ventures conceal their identities; they neither indicate their names nor their telephone numbers.
Meanwhile, an official of Sunny Bright Ventures in early December 2024 threatened and collected revenue from a particular shop in the Akute area, with the explanation that the payment is for one year, and that no other payment will be made till same time the following year.
However, in March 2025, another official of the same venture appeared with a new threat notice for payment.
When briefed on the existing payment, with the promise that the new payment would be made by the shop operator, when due, he simply responded that the official that collected levy in December last year may not have delivered the payment to the office. He explained to the shop operator that the local government runs financial year from January to December, and that is what he demanding for 2025.
While, still dealing with the Sunny Bright Venture’s demand, the demand of Sufash Ventures has become worrisome for shop operators in Ifo local government, duplicating the tax or levy they pay to the council.
Meanwhile, more investigations are being conducted by this reporter to ascertain the actual level the local government imposes on shop operators in Ifo LG.
Curiously, both Sunny Bright Ventures and Sufash Ventures function from the same office location, indicated as Akute Area Office: Agege Motor Oark Road, Akute, Ogun State, however, with different telephone numbers.
Details in subsequent reports.