The Benue State Government has established a Department of Public Order in the Ministry of Justice to coordinate government policies and matters relating to public order.
Among the activities outlawed by the new order are prostitution, child labour and night crawling beyond 10 p.m.
Also outlawed is loitering in the hours between 12:00 midnight and 5:00 a.m. except for emergency or very important matters as well as cross-usage of public lavatories by men and women.
The Public Order Department was birthed on Friday through an executive order declaration by the governor.
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Governor Alia said the 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 him, any breach of the prescribed public rules attracts a sanction of not less than N20,000 and not more than N500,000 fine, or an imprisonment, depending on the gravity of the offence.
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 for marching ground levy from developers, building on water channels or structures, kiosks or shanties on the right of way, and hawking or selling of goods of any kind by the roadside 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 roadside within urban areas and farming on undeveloped areas of government offices or quarters or reserved areas.
From the commencement of the order, rallies, wake and other forms of public gatherings should not hold beyond 10 p.m. in the state. However, any person or group wishing to hold gathering beyond 10 p.m. should first seek and obtain a permit from the Department of Public Order.
