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Reactions Trail The Ban of Alcohol By The Kwara State Government

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Kwara State Governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed

Some hotel associations has been reacting to the recent ban on sales, production and consumption of alcohol by the Kwara State government in the state. They believe that the enforcement of such laws would drastically affect the economy of the state and the hospitality sector.

Naija News understands that the Kwara State Government had  on March 13 banned the public sales,  consumption and production of alcohol in the state.

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Mr Adeniyi Ologun, the Executive Secretary of the Hotel and Personnel Services Employers’ Association of Nigeria (HOPESEA) while speaking to newsmen said that such a decision would cause restrictions on freedom to invest.

He said that  hoteliers had tried to make huge gains from the sales of alcohol to be able to pay the various  taxes levied on them over the years.

“Implementing the new law will force several of our members  out of job and it  will be compounding our problems, ” he said.

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Mr Ayo Olumoko, the Deputy President , Federation of Tourism Association of Nigeria (FTAN), Southwest zone said that the introduction of the ban would affect the economy of the state, adding that that would imply that the state want to adopt the Sharia law.

He said that since  the state comprised of both Christians and Muslims, both religions’ interests  must be considered by the government while enacting any law.

“Not now that there  is an economic downturn when people are looking for things to recreate with  and make themselves happy that the state should enforce its ban on alcohol. “

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“This will also affect our cultural and traditional activities. “Some of those alcohol that had been banned are used by the elders to perform cultural rites during traditional ceremonies. “

I think the Kwara State Government  needs to  reflect on the effect of such a decision on Christians, our traditional activities and the hospitality firms,” he said.

Also, Mr Lanre Awoseyin, the President of the Nigeria Hotel Association (NHA) said that the ban would not be adhered to because Nigerians generally were fun lovers

“I  am speaking from experience; you see, even in the north where a law like this was made in the past, it never worked.”