Social media influencer Reno Omokri has urged President Bola Tinubu to consider banning sports betting apps in Nigeria.
Omokri argues that such a ban could potentially contribute to the improvement of the value of the Naira. Citing information from the National Lottery Trust Fund, he expressed concern over the daily spending of $1 billion on gambling in Nigeria, with an average individual reportedly investing $15 daily in sports betting and other forms of gambling.
In a series of tweets shared on his X profile, Omokri proposed that President Tinubu issues an Executive Order empowering the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to ban sports betting apps from the App Store of GSM Internet Service Providers and revoke the licenses of physical sports betting operators in Nigeria.
He emphasized that this measure could have a more positive economic impact than recent actions, such as the Twitter ban. Omokri highlighted the alarming situation where a significant portion of the money spent on gambling is leaving Nigeria, surpassing the nation’s externally generated revenue
Expressing concern about the economic consequences, Omokri questioned the sustainability of the Naira’s rally under the prevailing circumstances. He stressed the need for proactive measures to prevent more money from leaving the country through gambling activities, emphasizing the potential benefits for the nation’s economy and the value of its currency.
