BY VINCENT UJUMADU

AWKA—EIGHT hotels and a private primary school have been sealed in Anambra State, following default in payment of revenue amounting to N2.9 million for the 2012/2013 fiscal year.

The sealed hotels are Hatfield (formerly Queen’s Suite), Century Guest House, De Pride Lodge, Malikwu Suites, Smithland Hotel, Cheleku Hotels, Swiss Cottage and Nicon Lodge.
Also affected were Lynette Primary School, Awka, and Be Joy Centre Point Leisure, also in Awka.
Yesterday’s exercise brings to 36 the number of buildings sealed in the state by Anambra State Property and Land Use Charge, APLUC, in the past two months.

Only a fortnight ago, APLUC sealed nine residential buildings in the commercial city of Onitsha for their owners’ refusal to pay the stipulated revenue.
APLUC’s Head of Human Resources and Administration, Mrs. Chinenye Okafor,  told reporters after the exercise that it was part of the state government’s resolve to  boost its revenue.

According to her, the enforcement  is sequel to court judgments obtained by APLUC, as well as the implementation of the state’s Land Use Charge Law 2010.

She said:  “The consequence of such default is that the owners/occupiers shall have the property sealed and liable for receivership and/or to a term of imprisonment for a period of three months or both until all outstanding charges, penalties and administration charges due are paid.”

She explained that the defaulters were duly served with writ of summons and hearing notices in 2013, regretting that they refused to appear in court until APLUC got judgments against them to seal their buildings.
Okafor also said that the state government gave 75 per cent discount on all buildings to enable people pay up their charges and wondered why people refused to meet their civil obligations to the state. He insisted that Anambra State had the lowest property rate in the country.