Interior Minister Advocates Focus on Non-Oil Sector for Economic Growth

Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, Minister of Interior, has advocated for the country to focus on the non-oil sector for economic growth, stating that the lottery sector is a non-oil sector investment that has yet to be fully tapped into in Nigeria, given the country’s growing population.

The Minister made the remarks while hosting the Nigeria Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC) management team, led by Director-General Mr. Lanre Gbajabiamila, in Abuja.

He stated that the lottery is not always gambling, as some people believe. He noted that some Nigerians feed their families from the proceeds of lottery business.

Noting that there is an established correlation between lottery and crime, he stated that there is a close link between lottery, gambling, drugs, money laundering, and terrorism, necessitating a collaboration between the Ministry of Interior, which is in charge of internal security, and the NLRC to provide a conducive environment for foreign investors to operate in the country.

He commended the Director-General for curtailing the abuses in lottery processes in Nigeria. He attributed this to the lottery reforms he had implemented.

Earlier, Mr. Lanre Gbajabiamila, Director-General of the National Lottery Regulatory Commission, stated that he was visiting the Ministry of Interior to seek the Ministry’s support and collaboration in order to make doing business easier for foreign investors.

He said this is because lottery business attracts foreign investors, especially as it relates to the non oil sector.

According to Mr. Gbajabiamila, the collaboration will help the Commission identify investors in the sector.