Niger state Gov. Umar Bago has disowned reports that his administration has banned the sale of alcoholic drinks in the state.
The governor said in a statement he had not authorised the order, and called for the arrest of the official responsible for the announcement.
The Guardian on Tuesday quoted the secretary of the Niger State Liquor and Licencing Board, Ibrahim Muhammad Bonu, as saying that the state would ban the sale and consumption of alcohol in nine local government areas of the state, including Suleja, which is on the outskirts of the federal capital, Abuja.
The official said the ban would take effect January 1, 2024, the newspaper reported.
“The law establishing the board has the mandate to control the activities of all liquor vendors in the state,” he was quoted as saying.
“Nine local government areas were on the first schedule of the prohibited areas with Suleja among and as such, the board will ensure strict compliance with the law.”
He said beer joints in the state capital Minna would also be asked to relocate outside the city.
“Not from me”
Gov. Bago said Thursday that the state’s liquor and licensing board had not been constituted and any directive allegedly from it was false, according to the News Agency of Nigeria.
“My attention has been drawn to a report in some blogs claiming that the Niger State Government has prohibited the sale of alcohol,” his office said.
“Such was said to have come through the state’s Liquor and Licensing Board, prohibiting alcohol in nine local government areas of the state, including Suleja.
“We wish to state categorically that the governor, 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.”
The statement said that Gov. Bago had directed security agents to arrest the “self-appointed Secretary of the board whose name is said to be Mohammed Ibrahim.”
He said the motives of the imposter and the reasons behind the pronouncement must be understood.
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