Business
Commission Moves To Stop Unsolicited Lottery Messages
The Nigerian Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC) has directed the stoppage of unsolicited lottery text messages on cell phones, its Director-General, Mr. Peter Igho, said in Abuja.
He said that the commission had the support and cooperation of the Nigerian Communication Commission to enforce the directive.
Igho advised promoters of lotteries to take their promotions to the appropriate media like newspapers, radio and television if they were genuine.
This he stressed would also create jobs or assist in keeping peoples jobs as those media houses would also benefit from lottery promotion through enhanced revenue.
Igho told our correspondent that lottery had a huge potential of creating jobs as its promotion normally had wide positive ramifications.
He said legitimate lottery promoters and the commission had provided employment and created jobs for Nigerians in 12 states of the federation.
The commission, he added had employed not less than 800 Nigerians in states where it operated.
He listed the states as Kano, Yola, Sokoto, Kaduna, Plateau, Kwara, Oyo, Lagos, Edo, Delta, Ebonyi and Imo.
“In offices we have opened in parts of the country, we have given employment to well over 800 Nigerians, but that is not where it stops.
“Each of those licensees will now, because we have created presence in all those places, can comfortably go and open their offices to operate there; and as they do that, they are going to employ people to serve in all these places.
“So each of the operators, of course, will help create employment; but it doesn’t stop there. As each of the licensees now begins to spread out their point-of-sales terminals, each of those terminals will be manned by somebody.
“So many outlets will be created outside by each of the licensees; and as that happens, you are creating employment.
“But more to that, each time you also choose a winner and that winner gets his winning, which we ensure it happens, that there is no more “magogo’’ (mischief) in it; everybody who promises something must give what he promises.
“As we ensure that is done, each of those people is empowered; and as of course, once each of those people is empowered, you are also creating capacity in the society.’’
Igho newsmen that the NLRC ensured that people got what they were promised by promoters as a way of empowering people.
He added that lottery enabled the society; enriched the society and provided capacity for all those it got in touch with.
The director-general said that the contributions from lottery went into good causes which would be used for the people through civil societies, NGOs and others means approved by government.
He added that money realised also supported the government in its endeavours at providing scholarships, hospitals and other amenities.
The NLRC boss commended the operator of Premier Lotto, Lagos, popularly called “Baba Ijebu’’ for being outstanding in providing jobs for youths.
Igho said: “Baba Ijebu’’ had discharged himself creditably so far because of his transparency and fair play.
“The person we call “Baba Ijebu’’ is one of our licensees.