The Kano State Hisbah Board has vowed to intensify its crackdown on betting shops following the Supreme Court’s ruling nullifying the National Lottery Act of 2005.
The verdict affirmed that gambling regulation falls under the jurisdiction of state governments.
Abba Sufi, Director General of the Hisbah, stated that the decision reinforces Kano’s position under Sharia law, which prohibits gambling.
“We will resume our clampdown on betting shops with renewed determination since betting is illegal under Kano State Sharia law,” Sufi told reporters.
Last month, Hisbah operatives raided and shut down dozens of football betting shops across Kano, citing their promotion of gambling.
The operations were suspended after protests from the National Lottery Commission, which argued that the 2005 law legalized sports betting.
However, with the Supreme Court verdict, the Hisbah has declared its authority on the matter.
“The controversy on who should regulate lotteries has been settled. The lottery law gave legal backing to gambling, which is clearly prohibited in Islam,” Sufi added.
Kano, Nigeria’s largest northern city, is one of 12 states enforcing Islamic Sharia alongside federal laws.
The city is home to around 200 betting shops where patrons watch international soccer matches and horse races while placing bets.
Sydney Emeafu, head of the National Union of Gaming and Lottery Workers in Kano, expressed concern over the raids, which impact the livelihoods of workers in the sector.
Sufi defended the raids, citing complaints from parents about children lured into gambling and the negative effects of the harsh economic climate.
“People are hoping to make easy money, but instead, they become hooked to the vice,” he said.
The crackdown is expected to reshape the gambling landscape in Kano, further intensifying debates about the intersection of federal and state laws in Nigeria.
