Kano State’s Islamic morality police, the Hisbah, have announced plans to intensify their crackdown on betting shops following a Supreme Court ruling on gambling regulation.
The Supreme Court, on Friday, invalidated a 2005 law that established a national lottery commission and legalized sports betting across Nigeria.
The court ruled that gambling regulation is the responsibility of state governments, not the federal government.
This decision has emboldened Kano State, one of Nigeria’s 12 predominantly Muslim states where Islamic Sharia law operates alongside federal law, to renew its opposition to gambling.
Abba Sufi, the Director General of the Kano Hisbah, revealed their next steps in an interview with AFP.
“We will resume our clampdown on betting shops with renewed determination since betting is illegal under Kano State Sharia law,” Sufi declared.
The Supreme Court’s decision, he noted, has ended years of controversy over whether gambling laws should fall under federal or state control.
“With this verdict, the controversy on who should be in charge of lottery legislation between the federal government and state governments has been settled,” Sufi stated.
According to him, Kano’s government and religious leaders have long opposed the 2005 Lottery Act, which provided legal backing for gambling across Nigeria.
“We in Kano have frowned at the lottery law because it gave legal backing to gambling, which is clearly prohibited in Islam,” Sufi said firmly.
The Hisbah’s decision follows repeated complaints from parents in Kano about the growing popularity of football betting among their children.
Parents have expressed concerns that the love of football has lured many young people into gambling, creating destructive habits.
Sufi explained that economic hardship has also driven more people to bet on football, hoping to make quick money.
“And the harsh economic climate is pushing more people into this football gambling, hoping to make easy money and becoming hooked to the vice,” he argued.
Last month, Hisbah operatives launched a series of raids on betting shops across Kano.
During these raids, dozens of football betting outlets were shut down for allegedly promoting activities prohibited by Sharia law.
However, the raids were temporarily halted after the National Lottery Commission protested, arguing that football betting was legal under federal law.
The Hisbah, a state-backed unit responsible for enforcing Islamic law in Kano, is now set to resume its operations with greater resolve.
“We will carry out these raids with renewed energy because it is now clear that the law is on our side,” Sufi added.
The Hisbah’s actions have sparked mixed reactions among Kano residents.
Some support the crackdown, citing moral and religious reasons, while others believe gambling provides economic opportunities, especially in tough times.
One resident, Mallam Ibrahim, said, “Gambling has no place in our society. It is destroying the future of our children.”
However, a football enthusiast, Musa Aliyu, disagreed.
“Some people depend on football betting to survive. The government should focus on providing jobs instead of shutting businesses,” Aliyu argued.
The Supreme Court ruling has shifted the focus of gambling regulation to state governments, giving Kano and other states more control.
Legal experts believe the decision could lead to significant changes in Nigeria’s gambling industry, as states now have the power to create and enforce their own laws.
For Kano’s Hisbah, the ruling is a moral victory in its long-standing battle against gambling.
“Our mission is to protect the moral fabric of our society, and we will not compromise on that,” Sufi emphasized.
