From Yakubu Mustapha, Minna
The Niger State Liquor Licensing Board has launched a major crackdown targeting illegal operators, warning that unregistered businesses and those violating state zoning laws will face complete closure.
The Executive Director of Operations and Enforcement, Mohammed Hamisu Kogunan (the Tudun Minna), disclosed the board’s aggressive new enforcement stance to journalists in Minna.
He emphasized that targeting illicit vendors is central to the board’s mandate to restore public order, eliminate institutional corruption, and protect law-abiding businesses.
As part of the offensive against non-compliant and illegal setups, the board issued a definitive ultimatum regarding where alcohol can legally be sold.
“Liquor vendors must desist from selling alcoholic beverages anywhere close to schools, churches, and mosques.
“Any vendor found violating these designated zoning restrictions will face complete business closure starting next year,” he stated.
Kogunan warned that illegal operators operating in these restricted zones will be locked out entirely.
To protect legitimate businesses from extortion by unauthorized revenue collectors, he strongly advised certified vendors to immediately contact the board’s headquarters for verification if any individual demands cash levies on-site.
According to him, a key strategy in isolating illegal vendors has been the total overhaul of the board’s fiscal infrastructure.
He added that to stamp out unregulated cash transactions—which often sustain illicit operations—the board has deployed rigorous counter-measures.
“ The board has completely phased out cash collections. All legitimate licensing, annual renewals, and official inspection fees must now be deposited directly into a single dedicated state account.
“This single-account mechanism effectively starves corrupt intermediaries and unverified operators who previously thrived under a porous, cash-based system,” he stressed.
Kogunan noted that the tactical drive to flush out illegal vendors aligns directly with the progressive vision of Governor Mohammed Umar Bago’s “New Niger Agenda.”
He credited the Director General of the board, Barrister Yahaya Halidu (Pera), for designing an inclusive yet unyielding enforcement framework.
This strategy, he noted ensures strict compliance with state liquor laws across Niger State while fostering a healthy, structured market for fully licensed, law-abiding vendors.
