May 06, (THEWILL) – The Executive Secretary of the Benue Sports Marketing and Lottery Board (BSMLB), Mr Michael Uper, has said the chances of generating about N700 million yearly as internal revenue from lottery activities in the state are on the high side.
Mr Uper, who made the disclosure at the unveiling of the Lottery Logo by the Commissioner for Sports, Youth and Creativity, Rt. Hon. Terkimbi Ikyange, in Makurdi on Monday, explained that each location attracts the sum of one hundred thousand Naira and is renewable yearly.
According to him, the state would also get a commission on the purchase of tickets played by individuals, alleging that full amounts were not remitted as required because the system was being operated manually.
“We are now putting on an automated collection system and have a partnership with Sentimental Payment Gateway, a company in London which can debit taxes at the point of transaction to the Government treasury”, Uper stated.
The Executive Secretary, who said at the moment, only BetKing and Betnaija are paying tax to the Benue State Government, expressed the hope that the era of other operators shortchanging or paying based on assumption is over.
He said BSMLB, in partnership with the National Communications Commission (NCC), would restrict illegal business operators from providing internet services within Benue State, as all the accounts on Android phones will go down the ladder.
“Therefore, the system will compel users of Android phones to come and integrate into the platform created for the state, which is www.bsmlb.org, Once this is done, all the basic revenue items are supposed to be paid and will hit the state Treasury”, Mr Uper stated.
Performing the ceremony, the Commissioner for Sports, Youth and Creativity, Rt Honourable Terkimbi Ikyange, said the law establishing the Board was passed in 2017, but activities were not effective in the past.
He explained that the Government of Hyacinth Alia saw the need to rejig the system by constituting a new board with people of knowledge and skills to drive the board to higher heights and generate revenue for the state.
The Commissioner, while advising partners to follow due process in the course of business, added that punitive actions will be applied against defaulters, pledging the Ministry’s support to the board to deliver on its mandate.
He listed the Board’s mandate to include, development of sports, enhancing community engagement and generating revenue for various public initiatives through legalised lottery activities and sued for cooperation.
