The Delta State Government has taken legal action against hotels, lounges, and clubs that failed to obtain or renew their operational licences.
Defaulters have been served notices to appear before the magistrate court, according to the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dr Darlington Ijeh.
The commissioner affirmed in a statement: “Consequent to the failure of most hotel, nightclub, and lounge owners to register their facilities, obtain operating licences, or renew them with the state tourism board through the Internal Revenue Service, it has become necessary for the Directorate of Culture and Tourism to seek legal remedy.
“Recall that since the inception of this administration, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori has been maintaining the necessary enabling environment for businesses to thrive, has invested heavily in security infrastructure and has constantly maintained that the state would do everything within the ambit of the law to collect every legitimate tax due to it.”
He stated that “the first set of defaulters will be appearing before the magistrate court to give an account of why they should not be sanctioned or prosecuted for failing to perform their legitimate obligations to the state.”
He further added that “this should serve as a deterrent and warning to hotel, club, and lounge owners in other parts of the state,” as there will be “no selective treatment in this operation.”
