By Simeon OSAJIE
The Edo State Internal Revenue Service (EIRS) on Friday, October 29, 2026, sealed off the industrial premises of Rongtai Plastic Company Limited and eight other corporate entities operating in the Utesi Community of Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo State, over an unremitted tax liability totaling ₦8,982,000,000.00 (Eight Billion, Nine Hundred and Eighty-Two Million) Naira.
The affected companies, predominantly Chinese-owned firms operating within the area, include Rongtai Hardware Limited, Rongtai Energy Technology Company Limited, Rongtai Building Materials Company Limited, Rongtai Food Company Limited. Others are Five Star Wire and Cable Company, Xin Guo Technology Nig. Ltd, Changrong Wood Nigeria Limited and Shunda Nigeria Enterprise.
This was disclosed by Courage Eboigbe, Head, Corporate Communications and Taxpayers Enlightenment Service
Edo IRS in a press statement made available to The9JaTREND in Benin City, the state capital.
According to Eboigbe, the tax liabilities stem from the non-compliance of these organizations regarding mandatory tax obligations, specifically: failure to register employees for Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE) tax, failure to file Annual Employer’s Tax Returns, and failure to deduct and remit PAYE taxes.
He said prior to the enforcement action, formal notices detailing the established liabilities were individually communicated to all nine companies.
“Despite repeated reminders and demands for compliance, the organizations failed to resolve their outstanding obligations, compelling the EIRS to exercise its legal power of distraint to seal off their operational sites via valid Court Orders issued High Court of Justice, Edo State.
“The enforcement orders will remain in effect, and the seals will only be removed upon settlement of all outstanding tax liabilities by the defaulting companies,” the statement read.