NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH (REGISTRATION) LAW OF LAGOS STATE

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LIST OF LAWS OF LAGOS, [ALPHABETICAL]  

NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH (REGISTRATION) LAW

[REPEALED BY LAGOS STATE NEIGHBOURHOOD SAFETY CORPS LAW 2016]

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS

1.       Registration of neighborhood88 watch

2.       Re-registration of existing neighborhood watch

3.       Composition of the neighborhood watch

4.       Registration of members of the neighborhood watch

5.       Security check on members of the neighborhood watch

6.       Issuance of provisional clearance

7.       Issuance of an identification card

8.       Register to be kept by the Chairman

9.       Application for registration

10.     Identification card

11.     Functions of members of the neighborhood watch

12.     Members to wear uniform

13.     Removal of the name of a member from the register

14.     Commissioner of Police to oversee activities of neighborhood watch

15.     Interpretation

16.     Citation and commencement

SCHEDULES

NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH (REGISTRATION) LAW

A LAW TO PROVIDE FOR THE REGISTRATION OF NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH IN LAGOS STATE AND OTHER MATTERS CONNECTED PURPOSES [1996 NO.12]

[Commencement]                                                                     [21st October, 1996]

1.      Registration of Neighbourhood Watch

(1)     As from the commencement of this Law, every neighbourhood watch within the State must be registered with the Local Government Area/ Local Council Development Area where it is situate.

(2)     The registration referred to in subsection (1) of this Section will be in such form and manner as   may be prescribed by the Governor.

2.      Re-registration of Existing Neighbourhood Watch

Every neighbourhood watch established before the commencement of this Law must comply with the provisions of this Law no later than thirty (30) days of the coming into force of this Law.

3.      Composition of the Neighborhood Watch

(1)     The neighborhood watch will be composed of all volunteer landlords and tenants of an area to be specified by each Local Government Area/ Local Council Development Area.

(2)     Each neighborhood watch will have a leader to be known as the Chief Watch.

4.      Registration of Members of the Neighborhood Watch

The Chairman of every Local Government Area/ Local Council Development Area within the State shall endorse the registration of each member of the neighborhood watch within the Local Government Area/ Local Council Development Area.

5.      Security Check on Members of the Neighborhoods Watch

The Chairman before endorsing the registration of any proposed member under Section 4 of this Law will—

(a)     obtain confirmation from the Divisional Police Officer in the Local Government Area/ Local           Council Development Area that such a proposed member had never been convicted for the         commission of any felony; and

(b)     determine the desirability of the proposed member after consultation with the traditional rulers and community and ward leaders in the Local Government Area/ Local Council Development Area.

6.      Issuance of Provisional Clearance

For the purpose of the registration of a member of the neighborhood watch under this Law, the Divisional Police Officer may issue a provisional clearance pending the confirmation as specified in subsection (a) of Section 5 of this Law.

7.      Issuance of an Identification Card

(1)     The Chairman shall issue an identification card to any member of the neighborhood watch           who applies and has satisfied the conditions stipulated in this Law.

(2)     An identification card issued under this Law must be worn by a member every time such a member is on the neighborhood watch duty and must be produced to a Police Officer for          inspection on demand.

(3)     An identification card issued under this Law is valid for one (1) year and expires on the 31st December of every year.

8.      Register to be kept by the Chairman

The Chairman must keep a Register containing the names, addresses, thumb impressions and           photographs of all members of neighborhood watch registered.

9.      Application for Registration

The application for registration will be in the form set out in Schedule 1 to this Law.

[Schedule 1]

10.    Identification Card

An identification card will be in the form set out in Schedule 2 to this Law.

[Schedule 2]

11.    Functions of Members of the Neighborhood Watch

It shall be the function of members of the Neighborhood Watch to—

(a)     ensure the security of the neighborhood;

(b)     patrol and keep surveillance within the neighborhood;

(c)     monitor the movement of persons;

(d)     give information to the police in the event of reasonable cause for suspicion of such movement;

(e)     arrest or cause to arrest any person caught within the neighborhood with the intent to commit any offence; and

(f)      hand over such persons arrested in accordance with provisions of subsection (d) of this Section        to the nearest Police Station within the neighborhood.

                                                [1997 No.2]

12.    Members to Wear Uniform

A member of the neighborhood watch on duty must wear the uniform prescribed for the           neighborhood watch.

13.    Removal of the name of a member from the register

(1)     The Chairman, on the recommendation of the Chief Watch and the majority of the members of any neighborhood watch shall have the power to remove from the register the name of a member if—

(a)     such member is unfit to discharge the functions either for reason of infirmity of body or of           misconduct; or

(b)     the member withdraws services by a letter addressed to the Chief Watch.

(2)     The member referred to in subsection (l) of this Section must surrender the uniform and           identification card to the Chairman.

15.    Commissioner of Police to Oversee Activities of Neighborhood Watch

For carrying into effect the purpose of this Law, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police will oversee the activities of all the registered members of the Neighborhood watch within the State.

                                      [1997 No.2]

1.      Interpretation

In this Law, unless the context otherwise requires—

“Chairman” means the Chairman of the Local Government Area/ Local Council Development         Area where the neighbourhood watch situates;

          “Governor” means the Governor of Lagos State;

          “member” means a person who is registered under the neighborhood watch;

          “Police” has the same meaning as in Police Act; and

          “State” means Lagos State of Nigeria.

16.    Citation and Commencement

This Law may be cited as the Neighborhood Watch (Registration) Law 1996 and will come into           force on the 21st day of October 1996.

SCHEDULES

SCHEDULE 1

FORM OF APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION FOR NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH

1.       Full Names of Applicant…………………………………………………………… (Block Letters)

2.       Usual Residential Address …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

3.       Nationality…………………………………………………………………………

4.       State of Origin……………………………………………………………………..

5.       Place of Birth……………………………………………………………………..

6.       Occupation………………………………………………………………………..

7.       Name and Address of Employer………………………………………………….

……………………………………………………………………………………..

8.       Next of Kin ………………………………………………………………………..

          ……………………………………………………………………………………..

DECLARATION:

I declare that the preceding application contains a full and true account of the particulars which          the Law requires me to state.

Dated this …………………day of …………………………………………20 …………..

(Signed)……………………..

Applicant

SCHEDULE2

R EGISTRATION FOR NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH IDENTIFICATION CARD

          Full Names: …………………………………………………………………………………………………….

          Residence: ……………………………………………………………………………………………………….

          Local Government Area: ………………………………………………………………………………….

          Identification Card Number: …………………………………………………………………………….

          Signature of Holder: ………………………………………………………………………………………..

          N.B. This is the front of the

          identification Card . The

          photograph above shall be

          stamped by the Chairman.

This Card is issued subject to the provisions of the Neighbourhood Watch (Registration) Law.

Issued at …………………………………… this ……………. day of ………………….20 ……………

Chairman

…………………………………………………. LOCAL GOVERNMENT

N.B. This is the back of the identification card.

LAWS OF LAGOS STATE

LAWS OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA