Gaming regulators from 23 states of the country have raised concerns over the Federal Executive Council’s recent decision to grant a 15-year concession to Messrs Yuan Resources Limited for deploying a revenue assurance platform in the lottery and gaming industry.
The concession decision, made on May 14 and 15, 2024, was under a Design, Finance, Build, Operate and Transfer (DFBOT) arrangement.
The gaming regulators gave the condemnation in a letter to President Bola Tinubu, the Senate President, House of Representatives Speaker, Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Speakers of 36 State Houses of Assembly and the Attorney-General of the Federation.
According to a statement made available to journalists in Ibadan by Head of Operations, Oyo State Gaming and Lottery Board, Fisayo Oke, the signatories of the letter include regulators from Abia, AkwaIbom, Anambra, Bayelsa, Benue, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Enugu, Ekiti, Imo, Kogi, Nasarawa, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Taraba, Lagos and Kaduna states.
The regulators said betting and casino gaming are residual matters, thus falling under state jurisdiction.
The regulators said: ”The Federation of State Gaming Regulators (FSGR) warns that the development might be sub-judiced as the Supreme Court is currently handling a related case between the Attorney-General of Lagos State and the Attorney-General of the Federation.
”This case seeks to interpret Section 4 (7) of the 1999 Constitution regarding gaming regulation authority in Nigeria.”
They, therefore, urged the President and other key officials to uphold the rule of law and suspend any actions related to the concession until the Supreme Court delivers its verdict.
