Lagos government accuses HealthPlus Pharmacy of multiple infractions, including tax evasion and misinformation

The Lagos State Government has strongly criticized Healthplus Pharmacy for spreading false information as a means to avoid paying the taxes and levies owed to the government.

This response comes in the wake of a viral video released by Healthplus Pharmacy, in which a woman confronts officials from the Lagos State Parking Authority (LASPA) after they clamped her car, which was parked in a designated parking area.

In an official statement issued by Mrs. Adebisi Adelabu, the General Manager of LASPA, on Friday, September 8, 2023, it was revealed that Healthplus Pharmacy had neglected to pay their annual corporate parking fees and setback levies.

Adelabu went on to accuse Healthplus of disseminating misleading information to the public and attempting to manipulate LASPA to avoid its regulatory responsibilities. LASPA’s primary role is to oversee private and commercial facilities, ensuring that indiscriminate parking along roads and setbacks in the State is prevented.

What the LASPA is saying 

Adelabu noted that the authority had in December 2022, issued demand notices for 2023 parking levies to private and public corporate organisations, including Health Plus Pharmacy, and thereafter, circulated reminders that were duly acknowledged by defaulting organisations.  

•  The statement reads, ‘’The attention of the Lagos State Parking Authority (LASPA) has been drawn to a viral video circulated by Health Plus Pharmacy, located in Allen, Ikeja. The video is a deliberate misrepresentation of facts to whip up public sentiments against government officials on lawful duty. 

‘’In order to set the records straight, the issues that led to clamping the tyre of the vehicle parked in front of Health Plus premises are detailed below;  

• Lagos State Parking Authority is the regulatory body established to monitor private and commercial facilities to forestall indiscriminate parking along roads and setbacks in the State. 
• In December 2022, the Authority issued demand notices for Y2023 parking levies to private and public corporate organisations, including Health Plus Pharmacy, and thereafter, circulated reminders that were duly acknowledged by defaulting organisations. 

• Officers seen in the video were on a final visit to seek payment for legitimate levies due to the Lagos State Government. It is evident that the officials were non-confrontational and professional in their conduct during the exercise.  

• All demand notices served to the company and duly acknowledged are hereby presented to members as a display of transparency by our institution.  

• ‘’LASPA will not be deterred from performing its regulatory role by unpatriotic individuals who resort to misinformation and fake news in order to evade payment of taxes and levies due to the government.  
•  ‘’For the avoidance of doubt, any individual found deliberately peddling falsehood to defame the officials of the Lagos State Government on monitoring and compliance activities will be prosecuted in accordance with the law.’’ 

In case you missed it 

Recall that a video of a lady challenging men of the Lagos State Parking Authority for clamping her car which she parked in a car park, was making rounds on social media. 

 In the video, the lady said she parked at the car park of a pharmacy to pick up an item and was shocked to see the government officials clamp the car. When asked why her car was being clamped, the officials refused to say anything.