The claim that Nigerian lawmakers are taking steps to halt sports betting in the country has been widely circulated, particularly by Instablog, a popular gossip blog with a substantial following on Twitter and Instagram.
According to their post, the House of Representatives is on the verge of stopping sports betting in Nigeria, following the adoption of a motion by Kelechi Nwogu.
There have been concerns regarding the perceived detrimental effects of sports betting on the Nigerian populace. Many individuals are grappling with addiction to this habit, raising fears about its potential societal impact. According to BussinessDay, research conducted by NOI Polls sheds light on the scale of sports betting in Nigeria, it reveals that Nigerians collectively spend over N730 billion annually on this activity. Moreover, an estimated N2 billion is generated daily from sports betting alone. The data further indicates that over 60 million Nigerian punters spend at least N3,000 daily on bet stakes. Additionally, the proliferation of betting sites in Nigeria is evident, with the current count standing at around 50, and this number continues to grow each year.
Claim: Did Nigerian Lawmakers move to stop sports betting in Nigeria?
Verification
Upon examining the claim, the CDD War Room found that Kelechi Nwogu, a lawmaker representing the Etche/Omuma federal constituency, indeed moved a motion before the House of Representatives regarding the need to address the adverse effects of sports betting.
In his motion, Nwogu emphasised the importance of taking measures to mitigate the harmful impacts of sports betting while also advocating for the protection of the rights of Nigerians, who engage in sports betting. He specifically requested that the House invite the national lottery regulatory commission to address these concerns and ensure adequate safeguards for players. Contrary to circulating claims, however, he did not call for an outright ban on the activity.
To further dispel any misconceptions, the lawmaker’s Twitter handle addressed the issue, attributing the inaccurate information to the microblogging platform. This underscores the importance of verifying information from credible sources and avoiding the spread of misinformation, especially on social media platforms.
Verdict
Inaccurate.
The lawmaker did not move a motion to ban sports betting in Nigeria, but rather moved a motion to protect players rights and ensure compliance with regulatory provisions.