Governor Umar Bago of Niger State has reversed his earlier directive ordering the arrest of individuals with dreadlocks in Minna, the state capital.
Speaking during a security stakeholders’ meeting held at the Government House on Tuesday, the governor had instructed security operatives to apprehend residents with dreadlocks, shave their hair, and impose fines on them.
“Anyone found with dreadlocks should be arrested, have their hair cut, and be fined,” Bago had said.
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“No form of unconventional haircut should be allowed within Minna. I have issued a marching order to security agencies.”
However, following widespread backlash from Nigerians, the governor rescinded his directive on Wednesday.
In an apparent effort to ease tensions and attract economic opportunities, Governor Bago extended an invitation to investors, encouraging them to consider Niger State as a viable location for business.
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“Those intending to invest in Niger State should feel free to do so,” he stated, signalling a shift from the controversial position he had taken just a day earlier.
The governor’s reversal comes amid growing public concern over individual freedoms and the need for inclusive governance in a diverse society.
