‘Betting No Be Work’: Naira Marley Warns Youths Against Gambling Addiction
Kehinde Adeleye
Popular singer and rapper, Azeez Fashola, better known as Naira Marley, has urged Nigerian youths to desist from excessive sports betting, warning that gambling cannot serve as a sustainable source of livelihood.
The Tesumole crooner gave the advice in a post on his X handle, cautioning young people against wasting their money on betting platforms.
“Football bet no be work bro. Please stop before they finish you,” he wrote.
His warning comes amid growing concerns over the rising influence of sports betting on Nigerian youths.
A recent report by Business Insider Africa ranked Nigeria as Africa’s top sports betting nation as of early 2025, with 168.7 million active bettors. The report also revealed that about 70 per cent of Nigerians under 30 are engaged in betting activities.
