Bayelsa State To Prohibit The Movement Of Speedboats Within The State After 7 o’clock

The Bayelsa State Government has directed Local Government Councils to come up with a legislation prohibiting the movement of speed boats within the state’s waterways after seven o’clock in the evening without security permit.

Government has also directed Legislative Councils of the eight Local Government Councils to enact bye-laws on the establishment of local vigilantes in all the communities.

The Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, gave the directive during separate meetings with traditional rulers from Southern Ijaw and Nembe Local Government Areas at his office, Government House, Yenagoa.

Senator Ewhrudjakpo, who urged the traditional rulers to complement government’s efforts at insecurity in the state, stressed the need for vigilante groups to be set up before the end of this month.

Consequently, he directed the Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Community Development, Chief Thompson Amule to notify the Council Chairmen to initiate bills for the enabling bye-laws towards establishing the vigilantes in their areas.

He said community leaders should work closely with the Nigerian Police to thoroughly screen members of the various vigilante groups, based on their individual capacities and integrity.

The Deputy Governor, who emphasized the need for more effective policing of the waterways to stem the rising tide of sea piracy and other forms of criminality, also directed that bye-laws, prohibiting traveling with speed boats along the rivers and creeks be passed by the Local Government Councils.

He noted that the measure would go a long way to complement the efforts of the security agencies to curb crime on the water routes in the state.

The Deputy Governor used the opportunity to call on youths to shun acts capable of truncating their future by turning a new leaf.

He noted that the state government was determined to give traditional rulers a sense of belonging and restore their role as custodians of culture and peace through the community administration bill to be sent to the House of Assembly.