Omokri, a social media influencer, has asked President Bola Tinubu to outlaw sports betting applications in the nation.

Omokri claims that prohibiting sports betting apps might even raise the value of the Naira.

Omokri bemoaned the fact that “$1 billion is spent on gambling daily in Nigeria,” citing the National Lottery Trust Fund.

The media personality shared his opinions on Wednesday through a series of tweets posted on his X profile.

“President Tinubu can immediately improve the economic conditions of most Nigerians and make the Naira grow by issuing an Executive Order authorizing the Nigerian Communications Commission to revoke the licenses of any physical sports betting operators in Nigeria and ban sports betting apps from the App Store of any GSM Internet service provider in Nigeria,” said the tweet. It is more logical than Buhari’s harsh #TwitterBan.

An average Nigerian spends “$15 daily on sports betting and other types of gambling,” according to the former Special Assistant to former President Goodluck Jonathan.

Despite the high prevalence of gambling in the nation, Omokri pointed out that, in comparison to the country’s externally generated revenue, the “vast majority of that amount” is leaving the country’s borders and going abroad.

This is unsettling. How much of our GDP is it that we are squandering in this way? Through gambling, more money is leaving Nigeria than entering the country, the author wrote.

“The Naira can never sustain its rally under such circumstances,” Omokri warned.

The tweet stated further, “There is such an epidemic of gambling in Nigeria and it is destroying Nigerian youths. $1 billion is spent on gambling daily in Nigeria, according to the National Lottery Trust Fund. Please fact-check me

The majority of the $15 that the average Nigerian spends every day on sports betting and other forms of gambling leaves our country and travels to Europe, South Africa, and Russia. In these conditions, the Naira can never hold its rally.

According to research by PUNCH Online, there are a number of sports betting companies in Nigeria. Bet9ja, Nairabet, Merry Bet, and SportyBet are a few of the betting companies.

In his post, Omokri went on to call on Tinubu to take action on a matter that poses a threat to national security, namely the gambling epidemic.

He also denounced the illicit means by which certain young Nigerians were attempting to raise money “to support their gambling habit.”

According to PUNCH Online, Zephaniah Jisalo, Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, promised that the Federal Government would resolve the conflict arising from revenue generation in the gaming industry.

FG “will do all within its statutory powers to ensure the gaming industry remains on the steady path of sustainable growth and development,” Jisalo said during a speech at the 2023 International Gaming Conference on Tuesday, October 31, 2023, which was held at the Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos State.

He claimed that the funds came from license and permit holders’ statutory remittances.