Traders in Lagos’ Computer Village temporarily shut their shops in a peaceful show of solidarity as the standoff with the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) entered its second week. The action followed the sealing of several plazas over a tax compliance dispute, with traders calling for dialogue and the immediate reopening of affected business premises.
The Coalition of Associations in Computer Village (CACOVI) said the closures began after LIRS alleged that some market leaders failed to comply with an agreed tax payment arrangement. The coalition, however, argued that many traders had fulfilled their tax obligations and should not be affected by the enforcement action. It also appealed for a fresh stakeholders’ meeting to resolve the impasse.
CACOVI President, Timi Famoroti, said the coalition supports the state’s revenue drive but accused the tax agency of changing previously agreed terms by demanding three years of tax arrears. Other traders also expressed concern over requests for sensitive personal information, including Bank Verification Numbers (BVN), National Identification Numbers (NIN), and details of their children during the assessment process.
According to the coalition, the prolonged closure has disrupted the livelihoods of more than 300,000 people connected to the market. It urged LIRS to reopen the sealed plazas and resume discussions with market representatives. As of the latest update, the agency had acknowledged receiving CACOVI’s letter but had not announced a date for the requested meeting or responded publicly to the allegations.
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