This archive report was first published on 13 August 2020.
Published on August 13, 2020, a report by Nigerian pollster Noi Polls revealed that over 60 million people aged 18-40 in Nigeria engage in sports betting, with the majority of them spending around $2 billion annually.
According to the report, this trend has led to a significant increase in betting-related problems, including addiction, debt, and even suicide. In 2018, a 25-year-old man in Ilorin, Kwara state, took his own life after losing a bet, while a 30-year-old agro-businessman, Noble Adelakun, lost over $50,000 within a month.
Adelakun, however, attributed his loss to a realization of his addiction to betting and the greed that came with it. He noted that losing his bet helped him to understand the dangers of regular betting.
Experts, including a psychologist, Dr. Aimua Cole, and a sociologist, Mr. Olusegun Temilola, have warned that betting and gambling can lead to laziness, loss of professional interest, depression, addiction, loss of jobs, failed relationships, and severe debt.
The government has expressed concern over the trend, with the Chairman of National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission (NSIWC), Mr. Richard Egbule, announcing plans to introduce a special allowance, 'Scarce Skills Allowance', to attract youths and divert their attention from betting and other untoward activities.
