Lagos — The sudden death of the Lagos Lottery operated by Orion Technologies has spurned up several questions about the capability of the private sector to sustain a viable lottery business in Nigeria, Africa's most populous nation. The concern raised by the development is understandable given the enormous socio-economic benefits that well-operated lotteries can bring to bear on a developing economy like that of Nigeria.

Lotteries, described by an expert as scientific means of pooling resources for common public good, hold potential for growing a country's economy several countries around the world including the developed countries like the United States of America and United Kingdom have had to rely on funds generated from lotteries to finance execution of major infrastructural projects.

The advantage of lotteries in nation building is not limited to education. Over the years, lotteries have helped to uplift the development of sports in several countries. In 1973, the Olympic Lottery Corporation of Canada provided funding for the hosting of the 1976 Olympics in Montreal. England is also a ready example of how lottery funding has impacted sports development. Talented sportsmen and women often get grants from the Lottery Sports Fund.

Following the recent announcement of London as the host for the 2012 Olympic Games, the government of that country has declared that the bulk of the cost of hosting the games will come from lottery. And the citizens are more than willing to increase their patronage of the lottery games in order to attain the national goal. Between 1994 and April 2007, the UK National Lottery has raised over £20billion for good causes.

Given the seeming socio-economic benefits of lotteries to a country and her citizens, what then is the way out for Nigeria, considering the vast potential that lottery holds for the country's rapid socio-economic development.

Already, the needed regulatory framework to engender the growth of lottery business is in place. Though there are presently a number of lotteries operating in Lagos, many of them are illegal. The National Sports Lottery which runs the popular Lotto Nigeria game seems to be the only operator on the side of the law.

If that then be the case, it therefore naturally behoves the NSL to take the initiative of creating the necessary process and environment for the growth of lottery in Nigeria. The same feat has been successfully achieved in South Africa by Uthingo, operator of South Africa's biggest lottery game. Between March 2, 2000 when the country's lotto was launched by President Thabo Mbeki and 2005, South Africa's National Lottery created over 473 millionaires.

Apart from transforming the lives of citizens who take part in the lotto game, proceeds from lottery has greatly impacted public infrastructure, thus making the lottery to be described as the most invaluable national asset in South Africa. Currently, the lotto in that country ranks 8th in the world in terms of size, and ranks among the top five lotteries worldwide.

Can the NSL pride itself on providing entertaining lotto games that will enable the generation of maximum returns for the community in a socially responsible manner?

Arguably, the first step towards invigorating the lottery business in Nigeria will be for the NSL, which seems to be leading the pack, to begin to introduce new innovations to the lottery business. Close watchers say opening up the business for more investors to buy in may be one quick way to shore up the lottery's operational capital which in itself will in turn impact the quality and value of the prizes. After all, a lotto expert, Charl Duplessis, a former boss of the NSL once said that the quickest way to creating millionaires and achieving instant success is through the lottery.