Nigeria’s Ekiti state COVID-19 task force says it arrested about 60 people who violated the regulation on the compulsory use of face masks.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the offenders were taken to a special court where they were convicted of contravening the state’s COVID-19 regulations 2020.
The regulations were enforced by the state government on Monday to curb the spread of the disease.
A total of 88 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in the state with 47 recoveries and two deaths.
Bolaji Aluko, chairman of the state COVID-19 task force, said the offenders were arrested in various parts of Ado Ekiti including Ajilosun, Ijigbo, Old Garage, Okesa, Fajuyi, Adebayo and Basiri.
Aluko, who expressed concern over the refusal of some citizens to wear face masks, said the enforcement will be a regular exercise.
“A fine of N5,000 is imposed on the convicts for refusal to wear face masks in public, in line with the new law to contain the disease,” he said.
“We are not interested in charging people on anything. We want them to understand that face mask must be worn.
“It happens that sometimes there are people who will not obey the rules unless they are fined. It costs only N100 or N200 to buy a face mask and a little inconvenience to wear it.
“Now you have to be caught and charged N5,000.”
He asked residents to comply with the regulations to contain the spread of the disease.
Also speaking, Ebenezer Ogundana, special adviser to the governor on security, said security agents have been asked to enforce the law.
Ogundana asked motorists to always wear face masks because a stop-and-search operation may be conducted to ensure compliance.
“If you are in your car alone and you are not wearing a face mask, you may not be arrested but we can ask you because you have to come down from your car and go somewhere,” he said.
“If you don’t have it, it constitutes an offence. You must have the face mask with you in your car or in your pocket because security personnel will ask of it.”
On his part, Femi Olanrewaju, general manager of Ekiti State Traffic Management Agency (EKSTMA), said officials of the agency have been positioned at junctions, traffic light areas, markets and bus stops to arrest offenders.
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