By Ayomide Otitoju
The Kano State Internal Revenue Service (KIRS) has sealed the headquarters of Max Air Limited, a leading Nigerian airline, over an alleged non-payment of ₦190 million in Pay As You Earn (PAYE) and other tax liabilities accrued between 2012 and 2017.
This action is part of a sweeping crackdown on tax defaulters in the state. According to Madam Ibrahim Abdullahi, Director of Debt Management and Enforcement at KIRS, the agency initiated the enforcement after multiple unsuccessful attempts to resolve the issue through dialogue.
“We issued several correspondences to Max Air to settle their tax liabilities, but they failed to respond. As a last resort, we obtained a court order to seal their headquarters in accordance with the law,” Abdullahi said.
Broader Enforcement Actions
Max Air, owned by businessman Dahiru Barau Mangal, who is also an in-law to Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, the NNPP national leader and presidential candidate, is not the sole entity targeted.
KIRS also sealed the offices of Dantata and Sawoe Construction Company along Zaria Road for defaulting on over ₦241 million in PAYE and withholding tax liabilities from 2021 to 2022. Additionally, Northern Rice and Oil Milling Nigeria Ltd, located in Gunduwawa Industrial Estate, off Hadejia Road, was shut down for similar tax-related offenses.
Focus on Compliance
Abdullahi emphasized the necessity of tax compliance to support Kano State’s development efforts.
“Our enforcement team discovered significant discrepancies in the payment of taxes by these companies,” she said. “We were left with no choice but to take these measures to compel them to pay after numerous attempts to address the issue amicably.”
She clarified that the action is not targeted at specific individuals or companies but is part of KIRS’s mandate to recover outstanding liabilities and enhance the state’s internally generated revenue.
“This enforcement exercise aims to ensure that all businesses operating in Kano State fulfill their tax obligations as stipulated by law,” Abdullahi added.
Revenue Drive Intensifies
The state government has been ramping up efforts to recover unpaid taxes as part of a broader strategy to boost revenue generation and reduce reliance on federal allocations.
As of the time of filing this report, representatives from Max Air and the other affected companies were unavailable for comment.
