Lagos meets nightclub owners, warns against firearms, drugs

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Lagos meets nightclub owners, warns against firearms, drugs

The Lagos State Government has warned owners of nightclubs across the state allowing the use of drugs and firearms in their clubs, stating that it will not hesitate to shut down any nightclubs found culpable.

The Director-General, Lagos State Safety Commission, Mr. Lanre Mojola, at a meeting with nightclub owners held in Alausa at the weekend, said the state government had zero tolerance for the use of drugs and firearms at nightclubs, a statement on Sunday signed by the Deputy Director, Public Affairs, Mrs Adewunmi Okoh, and obtained by The PUNCH, said.

The DG also decried the presence of underage persons in many nightclubs in the state, saying that it was against the law to allow such to occur.

“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 happened 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 security operatives doing?” Mojola said.

He added that “the issue of underaged in nightclubs should also be addressed.”

Also speaking, the Officer-in-Charge of Operations, Lagos State Command Superintendent of Narcotics, Maijama’a Abdullahi, lamented that “drug dealers stick around clubs, they stick outside 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.”

Speaking with The PUNCH on Sunday, the Public Affairs Deputy Director, Okoh, said officials and representatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, the Nigeria Police Force, as well as stakeholders in the club business, were present at the meeting.