Lottery Commission generates N6bn revenue

The Director-General /CEO, National Lottery and Regulatory Commission, Mr. Adulphus Joe Ekpe has said the agency has generated N6 billion to government treasury from 2007 to 2016.

Mr. Epke who disclosed this to Daily Trust in an exclusive interview in Abuja Friday said the monies have been remitted to the Lottery Trust Fund to be used on good causes nationwide.

He noted with a population of about 180 million, Nigeria’s lottery industry should be about highest revenue generating government agency is properly developed.

“As at December remitted over N6 2016, we have billion to the Trust Fund” he said adding that the Commission is constrained by problems, hence its inability to generate more revenue for government.

Key among the challenges he listed include; lack of debt of the industry characterized by largelu fringe players who don’t have the financial resources and operation capacity to grow the market, litigations from operators/state governments and lack of a robust ICT infrastructure by the Commission to adequately police the industry.

“Why do we say the Commission can be highest revenue generating agency? It is because of the huge population in Nigeria. Lottery is tied to virtually all products and services and Nigeria has the market. So the potentials’ are there,’’he said.