The Niger government has announced a ban on the sale and consumption of alcohol in nine of the state’s Local Government Areas (LGAs), including Suleja.
This was revealed in a statement signed by the secretary of the Niger State Liquor and Licencing Board, Ibrahim Muhammad Bonu, on Monday in Minna, the state capital.
Bonu also stated that the Niger state government’s proposed ban would go into effect on January 1, 2024.
“Some beer joints within Minna would also be served with relocation letters to move outside the city to within an eight-kilometre radius of the post office in the state,” he said.
The secretary also urged all vendors to follow the existing laws establishing the Niger State Liquor and Licencing Board.
As a result, Bonu issued a warning to the board’s staff to refrain from engaging in illegal activities.
He also warned them against soliciting any gratification from beer parlour owners and threatened to fire any employees who were found wanting.
He warned:
“We are calling on all vendors to abide by the relevant extant laws establishing the board.”
“The law establishing the board has the mandate to control the activities of all liquor vendors in the state.
“Nine local government areas were on the first schedule of the prohibited areas with Suleja among and as such, the board will ensure strict compliance with the law.”