Activities were grounded at the Benin Airport yesterday as the Edo State Board of Internal Revenue sealed off the administrative offices of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and the Nigeria Airspace Management Authority (NAMA) for non-remittance of N40million Pay As You Earn (PAYE) tax.
It was gathered that FAAN owed the government N15million and NAMA N25million allegedly deducted from the salaries of employees in 2011.
Passengers could not leave the airport as the two gates in the facility were locked.
Some passengers left by breaking down the barbed wire that served as perimetre fencing at the airport.
Passengers scheduled for morning flights were stranded.
EDIRS Chairman Oseni Elemah, who led security operatives to open the airport gates, said the locking of the gates was a ploy to blackmail the government.
Elamah said only the offices were sealed off by his officials.
He said several means have been deployed to get the airport management to pay the tax.
Elamah was later arrested on the orders of the Inspector-General.
A FAAN official said sensitive documents regarding flight plans were in the locked offices.
Airport Manager Sunday Ayodele refused to comment but was seen being whisked away by operatives of the State Security Services (SSS).
The General Manager, Corporate Communications, Yakubu Dati, described the sealing off as an invasion.
He said the board could have explored all avenues of communication instead of carrying out activities that could threaten public safety.
But Governor Adams Oshiomhole, at a briefing, said the airport was shut by Sunday after officials of the revenue board served a restraining order on him.
Oshiomhole said it was unfortunate and worrisome that the police arrested those enforcing the law rather than those breaching the law.
Dati said significant revenue has been lost by airlines, the airport authority as well as the airspace agency.
In a statement he said: “The Edo State Government forcefully entered the premises of the Benin Airport and locked out all workers and airport users.
“The government claimed that FAAN and NAMA had not paid relevant taxes, including tenement rate, to it.
“This action, which has effectively shut down flight operations at the airport, is in contravention of the laws setting up FAAN.
“The act establishing FAAN states clearly that ‘the Authority shall be exempted from the payment of taxes and tenement rates and any arrears whatsoever in connection thereto’.
“The Authority, therefore, views this action as not only unlawful but provocative because it is a well known fact that all airport lands are acquired by the Federal Government and are exempted from paying charges to the states where they are located.
“The unlawful closure of the airport and the invasion of the airport’s restricted area is a security breach.
“We wish to assure all passengers, airline operators and other airport users that the Authority is taking urgent steps to ensure that the airport is re-opened for normal flight operations immediately, even as we regret any inconvenience caused them.”
Oshiomhole noted that the restraining order was served in a way that it does not affect the operation of the airport.
He said the airport manager assaulted officials of the revenue board and that he was embarrassed when the commissioner of police arrested Elamah.
Oshiomhole said: “The Edo State Government did not close down the airport. We believe it was possible for FAAN and NAMA to pay their tax obligations without causing pains to travellers.
“The closure of the airport was unilaterally done by the airport manager, who wanted to shield himself from the charges against him namely deducting taxes and not remitting same to the government in accordance with the law.
“We need to remind him that these are criminal issues. It is a criminal act if you do not pay your tax. We will pursue it legally. He is using forceful act by dragging the police into it but we will use due process of law to bring the airport manager to justice because we are all creations of the law.
“The airport manager decided to shut down the airport. He shut the arrival and departure lounges and ensured that nobody goes into the airport. The sealing of his office could not have affected the operations of the airport.
“When laws are violated, it is those who violate the laws who should be invited and not those who seek to enforce the law. I don’t think the action of the police is appropriate.
“We need to observe the rule of law with all finesse. The revenue board acted according to the law.
“We are working hard to send out a clear message that we are under the law. The fact that I am a governor does not give me immunity from my tax obligations. It is a criminal act to collect tax and not remit same.” Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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