Why we embrace Baba Ijebu – Lagos residents

[Mirror]

Premier Lotto Limited popularly known as "Baba Ijebu" has become a booming venture in Lagos State, as many residents daily stormed various centres to play the lottery.

Punters, especially unemployed youths, retirees, bus drivers, commercial motorcyclists, housewives and even bankers are seen spending hours at the gaming kiosks and poring through tomes of specialised publications in search of winning numbers.

A young man, Sunday Ayina, who claimed to have been playing the lotto since 2007, said: "There is nothing wrong with the playing lotto. I can tell you that I have achieved a lot through it. Some people see those playing it as irresponsible. I don't believe so. I am a technician and married with three children and I can tell you that there are highly responsible people playing the game. It is a game of luck; you either win or lose but there are more benefits in it."

Asked if he had ever won, Mr. Olufemi Adedeji, a motor mechanic, who was seen playing the game at Apongbon on Lagos Island, retorted "If I am not winning, I will not be here. I win occasionally, but I am yet to win big sum of money.

"It is a game anyone can play. You can play with as little as N20 or even stake thousands of naira. One thing is that the bigger the money, the better your chances of hitting the jackpot".

A lotto agent on Broad Street, Lagos Island, who did not want his name mentioned, disagreed that the game is played only by street urchins or unemployed youths, saying: "Professionals, including bankers always come here to stake money. I have been operating a kiosk for some years now and know the calibre of persons who visit here to play lotto.

"I have won N.5 million before. Somebody won N2 million recently. If you get win such amount of money by staking only N500, won't you invest it is something useful? It is true youths are mostly involved, but it does not mean they are all irresponsible."

The game is also popular in Ikorodu town. At one of the lotto kioks in market, people were seen busy staking or waiting for results.

A woman, who had a baby strapped to her back, was seen busy going through a specialised publication searching for winning numbers.

The woman, who gave her name as Yemisi, said: "I play because I usually win. There is no place it is mentioned that 'Baba Ijebu' is only for men. My female friend introduced me to it. Initially, I was shy because I thought of what people will say if they me around here. We used to think it is only for 'Area Boys' but today there are women, who stake on 'Baba Ijebu'."

It will be recalled that the Director-General of National Lottery Regulatory Commission, Dr. Peter Igho, said that Premier Lotto is one of the biggest contributors towards the Trust Fund, one of the stakeholders and the body that disburses fund for good causes.

"Any lottery scheme you run, 50 per cent of it must go to those who play it. The essence of lottery is to empower people; it is poverty alleviation tool. By the same lottery Act, 20 percent of the revenue you make, must go to the Trust Fund which will be used for good causes. This is what makes lottery acceptable. Government also sees it as a tool for empowering people and alleviating of poverty," he said.

National Mirror

[Folami David]

I see the whole thing as a waste of time for Nigerian youths cos it makes no sense. There are better things to do with out 'time'. Very sad..