Niger State Governor Umar Bago has refuted claims circulating about the alleged prohibition of alcoholic drinks within the state. Issuing a statement from Abuja on Thursday, Bago clarified that neither he nor his associates had issued any such directive. He urged the public to dismiss reports from social media and blogs regarding the ban.
Addressing the situation, he highlighted his awareness of reports spreading across various blogs, falsely asserting that the Niger State Government had enforced a ban on alcohol sales.
He specifically mentioned that these reports referenced the state’s Liquor and Licensing Board, alleging the prohibition of alcohol sales in nine local government areas, including Suleja. Bago emphasized the inaccuracy of these claims and urged people to disregard them.
“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,” he said.
According to the statement, the governor has directed security agents to arrest the self-appointed Secretary of the board by name Mohammed Ibrahim.
He said the motives of the imposter and the reasons behind the pronouncement must be understood.
