26th September, 2016
Stakeholders in the lottery industry on Monday in Abuja called for more transparency among operators to strengthen its revenue base and increase participation in the game.
The stakeholders, who expressed their views in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), also called on the National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC) to streamline its guidelines.
Mr Gregory Olatunji, Secretary-General, National Union of Lottery Agents and Employees (NULAE), said the industry needed transparency, accountability and probity in order to strengthen its revenue base.
He said that the Commission should also, as a matter of urgency, fast track its system of automation to enhance proper monitoring and regulation.
According to him, doing this will give rise to public confidence in the industry and increase participation in the game.
Olatunji urged more Nigerians to play lottery as a form of social responsibility so as to invest the money generated from it for the well-being of the people.
Mr Vincent Orji, a supervisor in one of the Access Bet lottery outlets, said that more enlightenment programme needed to be done to change the perception of Nigerians about lottery.
He said that changing the minds of the people would prompt participation of more Nigerians to play the game.
Orji also called on the regulatory commission to fish out those who were doing lottery business illegally.
According to him, it is high time proceeds from lotteries are adequately remitted to the appropriate quarters to enhance the revenue base of the country.
He commended the active participation of Nigerian youths in lottery, especially as it related to online and sports lottery.