Niger Liquor Board raises alarm over fake receipts, vows crackdown

The Niger State Liquor Licensing Board has raised the alarm over the circulation of forged payment receipts, accusing saboteurs of attempting to undermine its operations and damage its reputation.

The Executive Director of Operations and Enforcement, Mohammed Hamisu Kogunan, disclosed this while briefing journalists in Minna, saying some individuals were issuing fake receipts to liquor vendors and spreading false claims that the board was diverting government revenue.

“It has come to our notice that a few disgruntled elements are involved in nefarious activities aimed at damaging the good image of the board. These allegations are false, baseless, and should be disregarded by the public,” he said.

Kogunan also dismissed reports on social media alleging that the board had failed to remit revenue to the state government, describing the claims as the handiwork of mischief-makers unhappy with the board’s new accountability measures.

According to him, the board has introduced reforms to eliminate revenue leakages, including directing all liquor vendors to make payments only into designated government accounts.

“It is no longer business as usual. Those spreading these rumours are people who benefited from the old porous system, which has now been blocked,” he stated.

He maintained that records of improved revenue remittance were available with the state agency responsible for internal revenue collection.

The executive director said investigations were underway to identify those behind the fake receipts and defamatory claims, warning that anyone found culpable would be prosecuted.

Kogunan reaffirmed the board’s cordial relationship with liquor vendors across the state and commended them for their cooperation, insisting that attempts to create distrust between the board and the vendors would fail.