Niger Gov Reacts To Reports Of Ban On Alcohol Sale, Consumption

Niger Gov Reacts To Reports Of Ban On Alcohol Sale, Consumption

Governor Mohammed Bago of Niger State has refuted news reports suggesting an impending ban on the sale of alcoholic beverages in certain parts of the state.

Earlier in the week, widespread media coverage indicated that the Niger State Liquor and Licensing Board intended to enforce a comprehensive prohibition on the sales and consumption of alcohol in the Suleja Local Government Area and its surroundings, commencing January 1, 2024.

The board’s Secretary, Mohammed Ibrahim, was reported to have hinted at this development during an interactive session with journalists in Minna, the state capital, during the Christmas festivities. Ibrahim also mentioned the relocation of some bars in Minna metropolis to a radius of approximately eight kilometers from the Post Office premises.

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In response to these reports, Governor Bago, in a personally signed statement on Wednesday, categorically labeled the story as false. He clarified that, currently, there is no functioning Liquor and Licensing Board in the state.

The statement read, “The attention of the Niger State Government has been drawn to a report making the rounds of some blogs claiming that the Niger State Government, through the state’s Liquor and Licensing Board, has prohibited the sale of alcohol in nine local government areas of the state, including Suleja.

“We wish to state categorically that His Excellency, Governor Bago, who has been busy initiating and overseeing many people-centered projects across the state, never issued such a directive.

“The liquor and licensing board is yet to be constituted by the governor; as such, no directive of this kind can come from a board yet to be formed.

“In light of the above,  the governor has directed security agents to arrest the self-appointed secretary of the board and to understand the motives of the imposter and the reasons behind the pronouncement.

“We invite the good public and our friends in the media to ignore any such pronouncements and to, henceforth, seek clarification from known government officials who are authorised to speak for the state and government.”