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Raymond Ozoji, Awka
Dr. David Nzekwu, Chairman Anambra State Board of Internal Revenue Service, says that the wanton destruction of the Revenue House by vandals masquerading as EndSARS protesters, would not dampen their spirit; instead it would be an added impetus to their operations.
Nzekwu said rather than destabilize their services to the Anambra public, the tax administration agency would henceforth conduct her services under canopies and tents in the interim pending when remedial works would be carried out on the vandalised office complex.
Conducting officials of the Anambra State Project Management and Monitoring Unit round the remains of the vandalised Revenue House in Awka, the Chairman said their services were also online and there was no cause for alarm whatsoever.
He said it was rather unfortunate that what seemed to have been a peaceful protest was taken over by some other groups who don’t mean well for the country and some properties were destroyed across the country.
Nzekwu maintained that the Revenue House was a victim of the EndSARS vandalism. He said vehicles were set on fire and the office building itself was also set on fire even as he pointed out that it was the timely intervention of some staff of the agency who were around that put the inferno under control before the arrival of the fire service men.
He said most worrisome was that a significant part of the working assests were looted even though he reassured Ndi-Anambra that they were resolute and would not allow darkness to overcome light.
The Chairman said, “We have already created a makeshift office. We have some of our teams located at Ministry of Lands. We have another office at the Gaming Board. We will also provide canopies here and we will continue to serve the public pending when we sort things out.
“We have restored normalcy already. All our services are available. If anyone wants tax clearance certificate, ANSSID number or tax assessment, we provide all services and there will be no disruption at all.”
On his part, the Director-General Anambra State Project Management and Monitoring Office, Mr. Obumneme Akunyili, described attack on the Revenue House as really devastating being one of the infrastructure heartbeats of the state.
Akunyili said the office complex was completely ransacked and reduced to rubble but noted that the Chairman was resilient and determined to move forward even though he observed too that it was a huge setback for the state.
The Director-General noted that the anger directed towards the Revenue House was misdirected but also emphasized that the solution was to move forward from the situation, saying that similar destructions took place across Nigeria.
He said burning the Revenue House and other properties would not solve the agitations but be that as it may, they have seen and assessed the level of damage done to the office complex and would make recommendations to the governor.
Meanwhile, Governor Willie Obiano has also visited the Revenue House to have a first hand assessment of the tragedy done to the building by the hoodlums.
