Benue establishes dept to check public disorderliness

From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

Benue state government has established a department of Public Order in the ministry of Justices to coordinate activities of government policies and matters relating to public order.
The Public Order department was inaugurated on Friday through an executive order declaration by governor Hyacinth Alia.
Governor Alia said the executive order was pursuant to section 14 sub section (2) of the 1999 constitution and section 10 of the Public Order Act, CAP 382 of the federal Republic of Nigeria.
According to the governor, any breach of the prescribed public rules will amount to sanction including not less than 20,000 and not more than 500,000 thousand naira fine or an imprisonment depending on the gravity of the offense.
Represented by his deputy, Barr Sam Odeh, the governor prohibited all acts in violation of public order in the state and called for strict adherence to the laws.
The proscribed public misconduct include, disobedience to traffic rules, child labour and exploitation, all forms of prostitution, indiscriminate dumping of refuse on road dividers, open defecation and urination, demanding of marching ground levy from developers, building on water channels or structures, kiosks, shanties on the right of way, Hawking or selling of goods of any kind by the road side or on the road.
Also prohibited is Farming on empty unfenced plots of land or in front of any premises or on the street, or by the road side within urban areas. Farming on undeveloped areas of Government offices or Quarters or reserved areas.
It adds that from the commencement of the Order, rallies, wakes and other forms of public gatherings should not hold beyond the hours of 10PM in the State but any person or group wishing to hold gathering beyond 10pm are advised to first, seek and obtain a permit from the Department of Public Order at the Ministry of Justice.
The governor through the executive Order, announced the establishment of a Public Order Advisory Committee with the mandate to advise government on policies, restoration, attainment, preservation and maintenance of Public Order and safety in the state. Also, a Public Order Committee was established to operate in all the local government areas by collaborating with the advisory committee and other stakeholders for the enforcement of the prescribed public order laws.