No fewer than 20 business facilities were on Friday sealed off in Onitsha and environs by the Special Enforcement Unit of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) over default in tax payment to the Federal Government.

They include transport companies, fairly used electronics shops, building materials and beverage manufacturing companies.

Addressing newsmen after the exercise, the team leader of the Special Enforcement Unit from Abuja, Barth Oborolo, said the exercise was backed by the Nigerian Constitution. He urged business owners to save themselves embarrassment by paying their taxes as at when due.

Oborolo described the payment of tax by business establishments as a civic responsibility owed the government.

The Tax Controller of Onitsha, Ukay Okereke, who also spoke with journalists, recalled that letters of notifications were served to all the defaulters almost a month earlier, contrary to claims that they were not notified.

He however said that the businesses would be reopened as soon as payment by the defaulters is confirmed.