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For decades, playing Baba Ijebu meant walking to a roadside kiosk, meeting an agent, choosing numbers and waiting anxiously for the results of one of the day’s draws. Today, that familiar routine is changing as more Nigerians can play the popular lottery through their phones and computers without visiting a physical betting shop.
Baba Ijebu, the popular name for the lotto operated by Premier Lotto, has its roots in Nigeria’s pools-betting history dating back to the 1970s. Premier Lotto itself was incorporated in 2001 by Chief Kessington Adebutu, who became popularly associated with the name “Baba Ijebu.”
For many years, the sight of Baba Ijebu agents at kiosks and roadside stands was part of everyday life in many Nigerian cities. Players would approach an agent, select numbers from 1 to 90, choose the type of game they wanted and stake their money. One of the popular options became NAP2, in which players select two numbers from the 90-number pool.
The biggest change came with the arrival of online play. Baba Ijebu announced its online platform in 2015, making the lottery available on desktop and mobile devices. By 2016 and 2017, the company was publishing instructions showing customers how to select their numbers and participate in draws directly online.
The idea was simple: instead of going out to look for an agent, players could access the lottery from their phones. The online platform also brought other conveniences, including account management, deposits, withdrawals and the ability to check betting history and results.
Today, the official Baba Ijebu platform continues to offer its daily lottery digitally, while its Android application allows users to select from different ways of playing, manage their accounts and make deposits and withdrawals. The platform is for adults aged 18 and above and carries responsible-gambling warnings.
For some players, the attraction is convenience. “Before, you had to look for the Baba Ijebu man or kiosk around your area. Now you can do everything with your phone,” one Lagos player said, describing the shift from physical tickets to mobile betting.
Another player said the online version has made it easier to follow results. “I like the fact that I can play and check my result without waiting to meet an agent. Everything is on the phone,” he said.
But the traditional method has not disappeared. Many Nigerians still prefer the familiar kiosks, where players discuss numbers, compare previous results and interact with agents. The online platform has therefore added another way of participating rather than completely replacing the old system.
Baba Ijebu’s evolution reflects the wider movement of Nigerian betting and gaming from physical locations to smartphones. What started as a largely roadside and agent-based lottery has gradually become a digital experience, allowing its long-standing customer base to continue playing in a very different way.
As the company itself puts it, the game remains built around the familiar message: “You Play, We Pay.”
By Benprince Ezeh
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