FG to repeal lottery, gaming acts

The Federal Government is planning the take-off of the approved Central Monitoring System, repealing the National Lottery Act (NLA) 2005 and the Gaming Act 2021.

This is in realisation of the huge potentials of lottery as a wealth generator with huge impact on the nation’s socioeconomic growth.

The Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Senator George Akume, dropped the hint in Gombe State at the official launch and handover of vital medical equipment to the state and federal government specialist hospitals.

According to him, the moves were “to accommodate the growing dynamism of lottery business and help steer the industry to international best practices for improved good cause, interventions across the country and also sanitise the industry for much approved revenues.”

Represented by the Executive Secretary, National Lottery Trust Fund (NLTF), Dr. Bello Maigari, Akume noted that the facilities being handed over were provided by the National Lottery Trust Fund to equip the nation’s primary and tertiary medical centres, to strengthen healthcare infrastructure.

The minister expressed pride in partaking in the exercise, saying the promotion of quality healthcare is a cause close to his heart.

He stated that the federal government has decided to parry oil sector and look inward for other revenue inlets.

Akume said: “Government is committed to ensuring that returns obtainable from other non-oil sources of revenues are maximised. Hence, lottery is one of such alternative revenue sources that this government has identified and is determined to make it more productive and sustainable.

“As the sector becomes firmly established, it is our expectation that lottery will be included in the strategic plans of the nation,” he said.

He, however, warned all licensed lottery operators and organisations to rise to the challenges or risk sanctions.

Governor Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya, through his Commissioner for Health, Dr. Habu Dahiru, urged the fund to further help the state with ambulances, solar power and other medical consumables for the teaching hospital.

He said the equipment given to the hospital would certainly aid its better outreach and healthcare delivery.

The Managing Director of the facility, Dr. Ishaq Mu’azu Shuaibu, revealed that ultrasound scan machine, digital x-ray, oxygen concentrators and theatre beds were among the equipment given in October 2019.

He pleaded for solar and alternative power source, core duty vehicles and ambulances from the fund.