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‘It causes suicide’ – Lawmakers are taking steps to regulate sports betting across the entire country.

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The House of Representatives has initiated actions to curtail the negative effects of sports betting, particularly among the youth. The lawmakers have also called on the Federal Government to create awareness campaigns that will expose young Nigerians to the dangers of sports betting.

The decision was made after a motion was presented on Thursday by Nwogu Kelechi, the representative of Etche/Omuma Federal Constituency, Rivers State. The motion, which was titled “Need to curtail the dangerous effects of sports betting and direct the National Lottery Regulatory Commission to comply with the Lottery Regulatory Commission Act, 2005”, was debated during a session presided over by Speaker Tajudden Abbas.

During the debate, Kelechi highlighted that sports betting has become a global phenomenon and is growing rapidly in Nigeria, with the emergence of various betting outfits such as Naira Bet, Bet 9ja, Sure Bet, Winners Golden Bet Max Bet, Merry Bet, 1960 Bet, Bet Colony, Stakers Den, Bet 360, Bet 365, Apollo Bet, etc. He also claimed that approximately 60 million Nigerians aged 18-40 are involved in sports betting.

Kelechi further noted that the National Lottery Act, 2005, established both the National Lottery Regulatory Commission and the National Lottery Trust Fund, to ensure fair operations and protection of all players, stakeholders, and the general public. The regulations stipulate that a licensee, appointed agents, franchisees, or operators must adhere strictly to government policies on social responsibility in designing, advertising, and marketing.

The House expressed concerns about the weak regulations of sports betting which have led to mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, or addiction, strained or broken relationships, financial problems, legal issues, job loss, increased crime rates, and even suicide. The House noted that most players prefer betting through their mobile phones to avoid control and regulations.

Kelechi argued that if sports betting is properly regulated and supervised, it will generate tax revenue for the government and contribute to economic growth. With the adoption of the motion, the House urged the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation to conduct nationwide campaigns to raise public awareness about the negative impact of youth participation in sports betting. It also mandated its Committee on Inter-Governmental Affairs to conduct a public hearing on the dangerous effects and benefits of sports betting in Nigeria and report back within four weeks for further legislative action.

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In The News

Full list of military personnel killed at Okuama community, Delta

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The identities of the Nigerian Army commander, three officers, and 12 soldiers who tragically lost their lives in an attack in Okuama community, Delta State, have been disclosed.

The Defence Headquarters unveiled their photos and names via its official social media account on Monday.

The fallen soldiers, who were serving with the 181 Amphibious Battalion, were deployed on a peacekeeping mission to address community clashes in Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State when the unfortunate incident took place.

Their names are:

LT COL AH ALI COMMAND OFFICER 181 AMPHIBIOUS BATTALION NIGERIAN ARMY

Maj SD Shafa (N/13976)

Maj DE Obi (N/14395)

Capt. Capt U Zakari (N/16348)

SSgt. Yahaya Saidu (#3NA/36/2974)

Cpl Yahaya Danbaba (1ONA/65/7274)

Col Kabiru Bashir (11NA/66/9853)

LCol Bulus Haruna (16NA/TS/5844)

Lal Sole Opeyemi (17NA/760719)

LCpl Bello Anas (17NA/76/290)

LCpl Hamman Peter (NA/T82653)

LCpl Ibrahim Abdullahi (18NA/77/1191)

Pte Alhaji Isah (17NA/76/6079)

Pte. Clement Francis (19NA/78/0911)

Pte. Abubakar Ali (19NA/78/2162)

Pte. Ibrahim Adamu (19NA/78/6079)

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There is an ongoing genocide/ethnic cleansing, currently happening in the Niger-Delta, in the name of reprisals against some slain soldiers

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There is an ongoing genocide/ethnic cleansing, currently happening in the Niger-Delta, in the name of reprisals against some slain soldiers. But no news channel or media house is reporting it.

The Nigerian military @DefenceInfoNG @HQNigerianArmy, is currently invading communities around the Niger-Delta, killing any youth on sight and tagging them militants.
They are also burning houses of innocent locals.

Soldiers were killed in Delta state, but the Nigerian army invaded Igbomatoru 2, in Boma Ibe clan in far away southern Ijaw Local government area of Bayelsa state for reprisals. They locked down the community for over 8 hours, killing anything on sight. They came with gunboats, fully prepared for war.
They killed well over 30 innocent villagers.

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Troops Roll Out Armoured Tanks, Block Roads As Gov Oborevwori Visits Community Where Soldiers Were Murdered

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Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State visited the Okuama community in Ughelli South Local Government Area to assess the aftermath of the recent killings of military officers and civilians.

However, journalists were barred from covering the governor’s tour by the military Joint Task Force (JTF), which blocked access to the community with an armoured personnel carrier tank.

Despite this, Governor Oborevwori held a closed-door meeting with Major General Jamaal Abdulsalam, the leader of the military JTF, to discuss the situation, which lasted approximately one hour.

Recall that armed youths allegedly killed 16 soldiers in the community days ago. According to reports, the incident took place on Thursday evening when the soldiers came there for peacekeeping. The reports had it that the soldiers were suddenly surrounded by armed youths who opened fire, killing some of the soldiers, while others were kidnapped and later killed.

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