Sokoto state government says it has taken measures to sanitized activities and operations of lottery business centres in the state.
State Commissioner for Home Affairs Abdullahi Yusuf Hausawa stated this while briefing newsmen in the state.
He said the state government will sanction any company that fails to obtain permit or certificate of operation in the state.
Also affected are football viewing centres in the state, while liquefied and cooking gas retail sale outlets must operate at safe and hazardous free public points.
Hausawa also mandated operators of such lottery centres to act according to the laws guiding their activities, stressing that lottery houses operating in the state are taking undue advantage in of their approval certificate by the National Commission for lottery, not minding registering with the state.
Accordingly, the Commissioner said owners of such businesses must not operate in residential and school areas or places of worship.
“The state will not hesitate to close indefinitely or asked to relocate to outskirts of the urban centres any Lottery house found to be dealing with minors and under age” .
the Commissioner who identified some of the lottery houses operating in the state , said they had been given two weeks grace to legalize their operations or face imminent sanction.
In the same vein, Hausawa said football viewing centres were also implored to register and make proper documentation of their operation while warning that officials of the Ministry would henceforth monitor activities of such centres for compliance.
In a related development, the Ministry warned retailers of liquefied natural gas or cooking gas to desist from selling the products in crowded areas, markets, shopping malls and places considered hazardous to the public.
NASR MALALI