Abuja – Mr Adolphus Ekpe, the Director-General, National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC), on Wednesday warned lottery operators hiding under sales promotion to carry out lottery schemes, to regularise their activities or risk the wrath of the law.
Ekpe gave the warning in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Wednesday.
“Lottery, as defined by the National Lottery Act Section 57, clearly states that it could be a scheme; it could be a promotion; it could be any game or any programme that has a prize.
“Some people are hiding under consumer sales promotion to carry out lottery schemes, saying that they are consumer sales promoters.’’
Ekpe, however, commended some producers of goods and services who comply with the rules of the commission.
He explained that sales promotion that involved buying a product and standing a chance to win a prize had veered into the territory of the lottery commission and should be regulated.
The director-general also advised companies running sales promotion with lottery content to desist, adding that their action could be criminal.
He said that the commission’s Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) was still in force.
He further advised companies involved in consumer sales promotions to remain within the confines of the sales promotions.
He stressed that any sales promotion that had lottery content must be regularised, adding that offenders would be handed over to the Police and the EFCC.
“If you say, buy three of this and get one of this, it is a consumer sales promotion.
‘’However, when you say buy this product and stand a chance of winning other things, you have introduced lottery into it.
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“This is where the lottery commission comes in to regulate those who are using lottery content,’’ he explained.
He added that the commission had embarked on sensitisation campaign to enlighten the companies hiding under sales promotion to commit illegality to desist from such acts.
Epke also said that the commission had taken legal action against companies’ found culpable of such illegal acts.
He, however, urged lottery operators to the right thing in accordance with the rules and regulations, and to remit the appropriate fee to government.
NAN reports that the commission recently organised 2015 National Lottery and Sales Promotion Symposium in Abuja with the theme “ Reaching Higher: The Greatest Consumer Prize’’.
The event is aimed at sensitising lottery operators on the need to adhere to the rules and regulations on sales promotions, among others. (NAN)