AKALA TO REGULATE NIGHTCLUBS,LIQUOR CONSUMPTION IN KARU NASARAWA STATE.{PHOTO}.

     THE Chairman of Karu Local Government Council in Nasarawa State, Hon. Samuel Akala, says he will soon constitute a task force to regulate the activities of nightclubs and pubs as part of measures to tackle cultism and other crimes in the Area.

Akala, disclosed this on Monday during the swearing in ceremony of the council’s secretary, supervisory councillors and special advisers held at the Secretariat, adding that the bye-laws have been enacted to that effect.

According to him, insecurity occasioned by cult activities, was one of the challenges confronting the local government area.

He vowed to tackle the menace squarely, stressing however that his administration was not going to clamp down on the nightclubs or pubs in a lawless manner.

“What I have said is consistent with our bye-laws. The 1999 Constitution as amended has given the local governments the power to enact bye-laws to regulate citizens’ conduct and that is what we are doing. In our laws, you dare not operate a nightclub or a pub without first acquiring licence. In that licence we will state the duration of operation, what time you are supposed to open and when to close,” he said.

He blamed the high rate of crime in the local government on its proximity to the Federal Capital Territory, saying it was necessary to arrest the trend. He charged the appointees, who included,

Emmanuel Dachor (council secretary), Mero Musa ( supervisory councillor for health), Abubakar Maiwada (special duties), James Maikasuwa (education), Nasiru Usman (works, land and transport) and Dauda Karshi (finance) amongst others to work tirelessly to change the story of Karu.

He urged them to remain loyal to his administration as it was a difficult task choosing them from among many qualified citizens of Karu council.

At the the swearing-in ceremony, Chief Magistrate in charge of Nasarawa West, Mr Yamusa Godiya-Bawa, enjoined them to discharge their duties responsibly.

Responding on behalf of other appointees, Secretary of the Council, Mr Emmanuel Huwcks Dachor, thanked the chairman for giving them the opportunity to serve and promised to support all the programmes of the council.