The House of Representatives has resolved to stop sports betting in the country and urged the National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC) to comply with the Lottery Regulatory Commission Act, 2005

The resolution followed the adoption of a motion by Rep. Kelechi Nwogu at plenary in Abuja on Thursday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) had earlier reported that approximately 60 million Nigerians aged between 18 and 40 engage in sports betting.

According to him, weak or neglected regulations of sports betting have given rise to mental health problems, such as depression, anxiety and addiction

Nwogu added that it had also led to strain or broken relationships due to lying or stealing from friends & family, financial problems, legal issues & job loss due to excessive loss or debt

“Betting has given rise to increased crime rate & eventual suicide,” he said. He harped on the need for campaigns to prevent the negative social impact of lottery and underage participation