The Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) has sealed the Shoprite outlet located at The Palms Shopping Mall, Lekki, for alleged failure to comply with tax obligations.
A notice posted on the entrance of the mall read that the Shoprite outlet has failed to comply with his/her tax obligations under the relevant tax laws.
The agency described the act as a violation punishable under Section 94 of the Personal Income Tax Act 2011 (as amended).
“This premises has failed to comply with his/her tax obligations under the relevant tax laws. This is a contravention of the law punishable by both pecuniary penalties and imprisonment pursuant to Section 94 of the Personal Income Tax Act 2011 as amended. By order of the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS).
The removal of this notice without prior authorization by the LIRS is an offence punishable by imprisonment,” the notice read
As of the time of this report, the LIRS has not issued an official statement clarifying whether the action was directed at Shoprite, the mall owners, or specific tenants within the premises.
What shoprite said
Shoprite Nigeria has refuted reports that its Lekki outlet at The Palms Shopping Mall was sealed by the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) over alleged tax non-compliance.
Nairametrics reached out to Shoprite for clarification, and Bunmi Adeleye, a representative from the company’s strategy unit, confirmed that the store remains open and fully operational.
“To clarify, our Lekki store at The Palms is open and operating normally. The Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) carried out a routine compliance visit earlier this week, which is being resolved,” Adeleye stated.
She added that there was no store closure and that the circulating photo of a closed door was likely taken during a non-operational period.
“There was no store closure. It is possible that the photo of the closed door was taken during a non-operational period. We remain fully committed to meeting all regulatory and tax obligations and continue to maintain open, cooperative engagement with the relevant authorities,” she said.
What you should know
Following reports of temporary closures in some Shoprite outlets across Nigeria, the company disclosed that they are set to reopen ahead of the Q4 shopping season following a company-wide restructuring.
The closures were linked to working capital constraints and operational setbacks, including unreliable power supply in certain malls that affected fresh produce.
Retail Supermarkets Nigeria Limited (RSNL), which operates Shoprite in the country, is focusing on smaller, more efficient store formats, increased local sourcing, competitive pricing, and tighter liquidity management. These measures aim to stabilize the business and ensure sustainable long-term growth.
The move comes after months of customer concern, with reports of empty shelves and store closures in Ibadan, Ilorin, and other locations. Shoprite’s strategy is designed to make the chain more locally relevant, affordable, and resilient as it prepares for the high-demand year-end shopping period.
