•Bawa Naibi
Uneasy calm pervades residents of Suleja, a commercial city in Niger State bordering the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja and dominated by non-indigenous Nigerlites as the Chairman, Alhaji Isiyaku Bawa Naibi has vowed to enforce a fraction of the Shariah law forbidding sales and consumption of alcohol.
The development is coming months after some local government personnel invaded some recreational joints and hotels in Suleja, confiscated and destroyed several brands of alcoholic beverages, claiming to be acting on the orders of the Niger State Liquor Licensing Board, reports Sunday Independent.
Alhaji Naibi led Suleja local government Council’s position is coming on the heels of a statement credited to the state Governor Rt. Hon. Umar Bago disassociating his administration from enforcing the ban and its attendant consequences.
The Chairman said he will not only enforce the ban on the sale of alcohol beverages in Suleja local government council and its environs but that all the hotels operating below expected standards or violating the law will be closed down.
Notwithstanding the misunderstanding which led to protest by traders over multiple taxation and other unfriendly policies affecting the people, Naibi said he is also considering a review of tax on the number of hotels that will be allowed to operate within his jurisdiction.
The governor said he did not order any ban on the sales of alcohol in any part of the state because such restrictions were not the immediate priority of his administration as the statement instructively denied imposing the ban in specific areas of the state.
Dismissing as baseless the said directives on the ban of alcoholic drinks, the Governor further pointed out that the statement attributed to the Secretary of the Niger State Liquor and Licensing Board, Mallam Ibrahim Mohammed does not represent the state government.
The governor had in addition to the denial, directed security agents to apprehend the author of the statement, Mohammed Ibrahim, the self-appointed Secretary of the non-existent Liquor Board and to investigate the motives behind the false pronouncements that is causing uneasy calm amongst Suleja residents and environs in particular.
While emphasizing the commitments of his administration to safeguarding citizens’ fundamental rights, including freedom of religion, Governor Bago assured residents of safety of their lives and properties as such misleading information holds no merit as far as the administration is concerned.
Bago encouraged law abiding citizens to continue their lawful activities without undue concern, while also calling on the media to disregard such announcements or ensure they seek for clarifications from authorized government officials for accurate information.
Meanwhile, the Council Chairman had while meeting with members of the hospitality industry in the area including; hotels and beer parlour operators at the council secretariat last Monday made it clear that he was going ahead to enforcement the ban on sale of alcohol.
One of the operators who spoke on the condition of anonymity said Naibi specifically told them to disregard the governor’s position on the issue, warning that any attempt to disregard his order would be at their own peril, this he said has created fears among the residents.
According to the operator, “The chairman vowed to close down all hotels in Suleja is we dare him and except those that agree to meet operational biddings and that such hotels should be ready to pay new tax as approved by Suleja Local Government”.
The operator who expressed fears about their businesses said, “The chairman told us to pretend that we did not see any statement from the Governor because the statement is political and that the reality is that he will not allow the sales of alcohol beverages”.
