Shoprite in Enugu has been confirmed closed, weeks after rumours that its shelves lay empty began circulating among shoppers. The cause of the closure is still under investigation.
The retailer opened in Enugu about 2011, part of Shoprite’s expansion into Nigeria. It was once a go-to destination for shoppers in Enugu and neighbouring states.
Available records show that in March 2024, the Enugu State Internal Revenue Service (ESIRS) sealed down Shoprite and SPAR outlets for alleged failure to remit purchase tax from sales in their stores.
ESIRS said Shoprite “frustrated all our efforts to get them to do the needful” with respect to tax remittances, and that despite warnings, the company did not comply.
Decline Signs and Rumours
More recent reports say shelves in Shoprite Enugu were reportedly empty before closure rumours. Some social media posts and videos claimed the store had not restocked key goods for a while.
It is not yet clear whether the closure is temporary, part of a tax enforcement, or tied to broader business decline due to economic pressures.
There has been no official statement from the company yet.
It is also unclear if the shutdown will affect other branches across Nigeria, or if this is a localised issue tied only to Enugu. Some residents wonder if management challenges may be part of the story, beyond the tax dispute.
Shoprite first entered Nigeria in 2005, with its Enugu branch opening in 2011. For years, it was run by its South African parent company, but in 2021, Shoprite International divested from Nigeria.
The business was sold to Ketron Investment Limited, a group of Nigerian investors, who took over operations across the country. The change of ownership was seen then as a move to localise control and strengthen the brand’s foothold in Nigeria.
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