Governor: I didn’t ban alcohol in Niger State

Niger State Governor, Umar Bago, has dismissed a report making the rounds on the alleged ban on alcoholic drinks in the state.

Bago said such directive was neither issued by him nor his aides, urging the people of Niger State to disregard the report emanating from social media and blogs.

The governor said this in a statement issued on Wednesday, December 27, 2023.

He stated that his administration didn’t prohibit the sale of alcohol, adding that the alleged ban was said to have come through the state’s Liquor and Licensing Board, prohibiting alcohol in nine Local Government Areas of Niger 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.

Governor Bago said he had directed security agents to arrest the self-appointed Secretary of the board, Mohammed Ibrahim, noting that the motives of the imposter and the reasons behind the pronouncement must be understood.

“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,” the governor added.

He said inquiry should be channeled to officials authorised to speak for the Niger State Government.

The Star