Bago: Niger  Did Not Authorise Ban on Sales of Alcohol

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

The Governor of Niger State, Muhammed Bago,  has denied media reports over the purported ban of the sale of alcoholic beverages in the state.

He described the report that alcohol has been banned in Suleja and eight other local governments sharing boundaries with suburbs of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as fake.

Reports had claimed that the Secretary of the state’s Liquor and Licencing Board, Malam Ibrahim Mohammed said the ban of alcohol takes immediate effect on Monday in Suleja and eight other local governments sharing boundaries with suburbs of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

However, Bago in a statement he personally signed yesterday, described the story as a figment of the imagination of mischief makers in the state.

He noted that there was no time he authorised such a directive, adding that the so-called secretary is unknown to the state.

The governor said: “The board in question is not in existence as we speak. It was dissolved a long time ago and we are yet to constitute another board.”

The governor added that the board had been dissolved years ago and whoever was claiming to be its secretary was an impostor and on his own.

Bago added: “The so-called official cannot speak on behalf of the state government. He is unknown to the state government. The state government did not authorise the ban of alcohol.

“ I hereby, urge the citizenry irrespective of their religious and ethnic leanings to go about their businesses without hindrances.”

Meanwhile, the governor stressed that his resolve to sign the 2024 budget was in line with the quest to reposition the state to achieve sustainable growth and development, adding that he would not be distracted by mischief makers.