Skip to main content

President Buhari Slams 6 Months Imprisonment on Violators of COVID-19 Protocols

 President Muhammadu Buhari, on Wednesday signed a law to check the spread of COVID-19 pandemic and slammed six months imprisonment on violators of COVID-19 protocols.

The chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha, disclosed this while handing over five ambulances donated by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to the Federal Ministry of Health on Wednesday in Abuja.



Mustapha said that the bill, titled “COVID-19 Health Protection Regulations 2021”, is an exercise of the powers as conferred on the president by Section 4 of the Quarantine Act.

“The regulations enforce physical distancing of at least two metres and a regulation of the number of people to be admitted in an enclosed environment.

“In the exercise of the powers conferred upon me by Section 4 of the Quarantine Act, Cap. Q2 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2010 and all other powers enabling me in that behalf; and in consideration of the urgent need to protect the health and wellbeing of Nigerians in the face of the widespread and rising numbers of COVID-19 cases in Nigeria, I, Muhammadu Buhari, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, hereby make the following Regulations.”

“The first part of the new regulations imposes restrictions of gatherings and enforces a physical distancing of not less than two meters between persons at all times.

“The part also provides that no gathering of more than 50 persons shall hold in an enclosed space, except for religious purposes, in which case the gathering shall not exceed 50 per cent capacity of the space.

“All persons in public gatherings, whether in enclosed or open spaces, shall adhere to the provisions of Part two of these Regulations.

"The provisions of these regulations may be varied by Guidelines and Protocols as may be issued, from time to time, by the PTF on COVID-19 on the recommendation of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC),” the law reads.

“The second part of the law addresses operations of public places like open markets, malls, supermarkets, shops, restaurants, hotels, event centres, gardens, leisure parks, recreation centres, motor parks and fitness centres.

“The law provides for wearing of face masks, hands washing, and the use of hand sanitisers, amongst other regulations.

“It stipulates a penalty of a fine or a prison of six months for offenders. The President said that the law takes immediate effect,” he explained.

Speaking on the donation, the PTF chairman said that the NNPC donated the ambulances to the PTF as part of its support to Government-led efforts in curbing the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country.

According to him, the ambulances donated will be used to support the country’s response to the pandemic and the Emergency Operations Centres to expand the current capacity for transportation of cases.

The SGF acknowledged the support of the NNPC in its fight against the virus, saying “We are grateful to the NNPC for the donation of ambulances to the PTF. We also thank all individuals and corporate organisations that have continued to donate to the government’s effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19.” NAN.

 

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Breaking: Bandits Storm Katsina Mosque, Abduct 40 Worshippers

  Hoodlums suspected to be bandits on Monday morning attacked a Mosque in Kwata, Jibia Local Government Area of Kastina State. The bandits in the attack abducted over 40 worshippers. According to report, the incident occurred at about 12am on Monday morning during the Laylatul  Qadr prayers. The Laylatul Qadr prayer which is the Night of Decree or Night of Power is one of the most sacred nights in the Islamic calendar. Confirming the attack, the state’s Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, SP Gambo Ishaka said that 30 of the abductees have been rescued by the joint security operatives. Ishaka said “The report is true. Hoodlums attacked a Mosque in Kwata and abducted over 40 persons but we were able to rescue 30 of them. “But these remaining ten, I can not vividly say they are kidnapped or probably ran somewhere within the location for safety during the attack. “It was after we conducted headcount this morning that we discovered that about ten villagers are still missing. “Bu...

Ooni Dismiss Rumours of Resurgence of Ife-Modakeke War

  The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi has rubbished the reports that farmers killed in Toro village, Modakeke is a renewed crisis between Modakeke and Ife. Ooni described the killing in Modakeke as sheer criminality. "What happened at Toro village was sheer criminality and the long hand of the law would soon catch up with the perpetrators,” Ooni stated. He noted that attachment of communal coloration to the killing is an attempt by mischief makers to derail security operatives who are on top of the matter. Oba Adeyeye in a release by Moses Olafare, his director of media and public affairs said he received the report of the killing on Friday with serious concern. The monarch said the matter has been reported to the appropriate security agencies who have swung into action. Ooni warned that the Ife-Modakeke crisis has long been resolved and the killings should not be linked to the long resolved crisis. Oba Adeyeye thanked the Osun government, security agencies, and vigilante...

Offa Robbery: Saraki Still Have Questions To Answer As Police Invites Him Again

By Josephine Ella-Ejeh The Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki has not gained freedom from the police as the Nigeria Police Force has again  invited him to report to the Head of investigation team, Inspector-General of Police Response Team (IRT) in Guzapa, Abuja on Tuesday. Armed robbers  had attacked five commercial banks in Offa on April 5, 2018 killing  17 persons, including policemen and a pregnant woman were killed. Saraki had been  invited  following confession made by some suspects in the robbery that they were  his political thugs. A statement signed by the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris, on Monday in Abuja, said that the invitation was to further clarify the matter. “In your response to the above allegations, you stated ” by virtue of my participation in politics, I have a large followership which makes it impossible for me to know all of them. “For the records, your letter under reference did not include the full t...