Alhaji Isiyaku Bawa Naibi
The Chairman of Suleja local government in Niger State, Alhaji Isiyaku Bawa Naibi, has affirmed his commitment to enforcing the ban on alcohol sales within his jurisdiction, defying the directive of the state governor, Rt. Hon. Umar Bago, who distanced the government from the ban. Naibi stated, “I will not only enforce the alcohol ban in my local government and its environs, but also close down substandard hotels, implementing a new tax regime for those permitted to operate.”
This stance contradicts the governor’s position, as the State Government, through a statement in Minna, clarified that no ban on alcohol sales was imposed, especially in Suleja. The government dismissed assertions of a ban, emphasizing that the governor never issued such a directive and refuting the existence of the Niger State Liquor and Licensing Board.
Governor Bago, in response to a statement attributed to the board’s supposed Secretary, Ibrahim Mohammed, disowned the statement and instructed security agents to apprehend Mohammed for investigation. The governor reassured citizens of their fundamental rights, urging them to disregard misinformation and seek clarification from authorized government officials.
Despite the governor’s directives, Chairman Naibi, during a meeting with hotel and beer parlour operators, insisted on proceeding with the alcohol sales ban in his council. Operators reported that Naibi instructed them to ignore the state government’s statement, emphasizing that he would not permit alcohol sales in his jurisdiction, closing down non-compliant hotels and imposing a new tax.
Efforts to obtain the chairman’s reaction were unsuccessful, as his phone remained unreachable after numerous attempts.
