Bayelsa State Government has urged traditional rulers to open registers to profile visitors and non-indigenes engaged in business and other socio-economic activities in their areas as those who fail to do this may likely face sanctions.
Speaking during the second round of local government meetings with traditional rulers across the state in his office in Yenagoa, the state’s deputy governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, explained that the agenda is in line to increase the level of security in the state.
He noted that the position, where most communities in the state do not know the figure of people carrying out all sorts of activities within its jurisdiction is not acceptable to the government.
“In our previous meeting, we took time to explain the policy thrust of the government on security. We told you that communities will now do what we call profiling of visitors. We will be happy if you inform us in this meeting what each of you has done in that respect. We are going to follow up on our directive now. So, you must cooperate with the government to secure our communities because as you all know, security is a collective responsibility;
“Only last month, the National Security Adviser had written and announced that it is now compulsory for all traditional rulers in their communities to have a book to register visitors that come to their communities and what they came to do.
“You can see that what we discussed at the last meeting was preemptive of that announcement and the action the Federal Government is taking now. It means we are on the right course.”
Senator Ewhrudjakpo reiterated his call on the traditional rulers to facilitate action on the opening of registers and close monitoring of visitors in their various communities as he lamented the neglect of Bayelsans, who have left their traditional fishing and farming occupations to strangers.
“We will appreciate it if you expedite it because we need to know who is coming to farm, fish, or do any other business in our communities. Unfortunately, we have left all our traditional occupations to strangers to do, and now, we buy fish from strangers who have taken over our rivers and fishing ports,” he added.
In their remarks, the traditional rulers including the Amananaowei of Ekeremor Town, King Agbodo Gbaseimo expressed gratitude to the Deputy Governor, who they said fulfilled his promise of meeting with them before the end of the year.
They further assured him of their zeal to comply with the directive on profiling and other programmes to promote security in their communities.
