Lagos gov vows to shut nightclubs allowing use of drugs, firearms
Bola Badmus
Lagos State Safety Commission (LSSCOM) has decried the increasing use of drugs and firearms in nightclubs in the state, vowing to shut down any club caught in such act henceforth.
Director-General (DG) of the Commission, Mr. Lanre Mojola, who spoke at a meeting with night clubs owners, which also had officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in attendance, warned that the state government had zero tolerance for the use of drugs and firearms at nightclubs, which he said had become major cause for concern, and would henceforth shut down such clubs.
Mojola, in a press statement made available on Sunday by the Commission’s spokesperson, Mrs. Adewunmi Okoh, lamented that the use of hard drugs and firearms had become rampant in several night clubs across Lagos and would collaborate with relevant authorities to stop such proliferation.
Besides, LSSCOM boss also decried the presence of underaged in many nightclubs in the state, saying that it was against the law to allow such to occur.
This was just as he sadly noted that lots of night clubs frontages had been turned to drug sales outlets, saying there was need for concerned nightclubs to address such ugly development.
“The purpose of this meeting is to address certain concerns that have come to our attention. We have concerns about the usage of drugs and the use of firearms and other safety issues that have become a major cause for concern.
“Another issue is the usage of firearms in clubs, last year we had an incident with a superstar, on the use of firearms. We are also aware of a shooting accident that happens at a club recently, and this gives us serious concerns. We need to tell ourselves the truth. There should be scanners that people must go through, that can detect firearms. What are your bouncers doing?” he queried.
“Lots of night clubs frontages have been turned to drug sales outlets, you need to address that. Night clubs need to have lots of signages on designated areas for smoking. The issue of underaged in night clubs should also be addressed,” he added.
Mojola warned night club owners to respect the laws of the state, warning further that the government would not hesitate to wield the big stick on those flagrantly violating the laws of the state regarding operation of night clubs.
The DG also called on night club owners to take responsibility and form an association to better tackle the issues of drug and firearms usage in clubs, adding that no security detail should be allowed to carry firearms.
He, therefore, declared that the Commission alongside officials of the NDLEA and the Nigerian Police would start regular visits to night clubs in the state and shut down erring ones, found flouting the order.
Also speaking, the Staff Officer in Charge of Operations, Lagos State Command, Superintendent of Narcotics, Maijama’a Abdullahi, lamented that drugs were being used in most night clubs from his findings after undergoing a secret tour of some night clubs in the state.
Abdullahi said his findings revealed that many night clubs had no signages to warn people against doing drugs, declaring that drugs were being used excessively as, according to him, drug dealers stick around the clubs to sell drugs.
He, however, called for support from club owners in the state to put a stop to the menace, which he noted was getting out of hand.
“The drug dealers stick around the clubs, they stick outside the clubs and sell drugs. Some of those selling drugs are friends with the bouncers. We need the help of club owners, it is getting out of hand,” Abdullahi said.
