Govt to profile, register visitors, non-indigenes

The Bayelsa State Government has tasked traditional rulers to profile and register visitors and non-indigenes engaged in businesses in their domains. Deputy governor of the state, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, who stated this during the second round of meetings with traditional rulers from Ekeremor Local Government Area as part of engagement with stakeholders in the councils, […]

Govt to profile, register visitors, non-indigenes

A view of the Swali market alongside the river Nun, in Yenagoa, the capital of Nigeria’s oil state of Bayelsa November 27, 2012. REUTERS/Akintunde Akinleye/File Photo – S1BETDVHRKAA

The Bayelsa State Government has tasked traditional rulers to profile and register visitors and non-indigenes engaged in businesses in their domains.

Deputy governor of the state, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, who stated this during the second round of meetings with traditional rulers from Ekeremor Local Government Area as part of engagement with stakeholders in the councils, did not specify if the profiling and registration of non-indigenes was applicable to other Nigerians who are not from the state or foreigners.

There is concern over the new policy as the Nigerian constitution guarantees every Nigerian right to live and do business in any part of the country.

The Senior Special Assistant on Media to the deputy governor, Mr Doubara Atasi, in a statement, explained that the state government had earlier directed the traditional rulers to carry out the profiling in its previous meetings with them in which security topped the agenda.