ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA) – The Governor of Benue State, Hyacinth Alia, has signed an executive order banning open grazing, open defecation and urination, loitering, driving against traffic, abandoning or parking vehicles on traffic lanes or driveways, over-speeding, overloading vehicles, and other offences in the state.
Governor Alia explained that the executive order aligns with Section 14 (2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, and Section 10 of the Public Order Act (CAP 382) laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 2004.
The order, effective from February 28, 2024, was obtained by Channels Television and includes penalties for loitering between midnight and 5:00 AM unless for emergencies, cross-usage of public lavatories by men and women, and indiscriminate dumping of waste on road dividers, gutters, and unauthorized places.
Other listed offences include: throwing empty water sachets and polythene bags in public, road excavation and causing obstructions, farming on unfenced plots or in front of premises within urban areas, farming in undeveloped government areas, constructing across water channels or drainages, building structures or kiosks on the right of way, and roadside hawking.
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Rallies, wakes, and other public gatherings after 10:00 PM without a permit from the Department of Public Order at the Ministry of Justice and Public Order, Benue State, are also banned.
“All businesses in the cities, towns, and villages in Benue State shall close by midnight and shall not operate beyond the said hours in the night except health workers, security operatives, and other essential services,” the order states.
Also, businesses intending to operate beyond midnight must seek a permit from the Department of Public Order.
“No minor in any family within the state shall be sent on any errand or hawking of any goods or product during school hours or beyond 6:00 PM.
“All acts carried out or perpetrated in violation of public morality and public decency are hereby prohibited: strippers club or naked strip dancing, any form of prostitution in public places or commercial sex hawking, use of minors as bartenders, indecent dressing or nudity, accommodating minors at hotels or brothels without parental consent, disrespect for elders and authorities, and false information on social media (hate speech).
“Under this order, any person desiring special consideration or waiver must apply to the Department of Public Order for a permit under such terms and conditions as the Department may grant.
“Any person who acts in contravention of any of the provisions of this Order shall be summarily tried and punished in line with the provisions of the extant laws operating in the State,” the statement said.
The order specifies that offenders will be punished in accordance with the order or fined between N20,000.00 and N500,000.00, depending on the conduct and offence.
Failure to pay the fine will result in impoundment of property until the fine is paid or, after 30 days, forfeiture to the Benue State Government. Offenders may also face custodial terms of one to twelve months.
The governor has also inaugurated a task force, tribunals, committees, and other arbitration panels to enforce the public order. The order grants jurisdiction to any Magistrate, Area Court Judge, or Public Order Tribunal chaired by a Justice of Peace to try and convict offenders.
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“There is hereby established for the State a Public Order Advisory Committee, whose responsibility shall be to advise the Government on policies and programs for the restoration, attainment, preservation, and maintenance of Public Order and safety in Benue State at all times.
“Other functions of the Advisory Committee shall be as contained in the guidelines for the Public Order Advisory Committee to be published in the official Gazette.
“A Public Order Committee is hereby established in every Local Government Area of the State to liaise, synergize, and collaborate with the Public Order Advisory Committee, the Department of Public Order, and other stakeholders in securing, preserving, and maintaining Public Order in Benue State.
“A Public Order Taskforce is established to operate throughout the State, including Local Government Areas. A Public Order Tribunal will complement the work of the Committees, the Department of Public Order, and the Taskforce.
“The Taskforce shall be responsible for the preservation and enforcement of provisions on Public Order.”