Buhari Signs Penalties for COVID-19 Guideline Violators

Boss Mustapha, the Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID 19 and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, informed journalists on Wednesday that the President signed the document on Tuesday.  He said that the President signed the document in the exercise of the powers conferred on him by Section 4 of the Quarantine Act, Cap. Q2, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2010.

Part one deals with restrictions on social gatherings and it stipulates that at all gatherings, a physical distance of at least two meters shall be maintained at all times between persons.

Part two of the regulation stipulates that no person shall be allowed within the premises of a market, mall, supermarket, shop, restaurants, hotels, event centers, gardens, leisure parks, recreation centers, motor parks, fitness center, or any other similar establishment “except he is wearing a face covering that covers the nose and mouth; he washes his hands or cleaned the hands using hand sanitizer approved by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, and his body temperature has been checked.

Any person found to have a body temperature above 38 degrees Celsius shall be denied entry and advised to immediately seek medical attention.”

Further explained in Part Two is, “Notwithstanding the provision of Regulation 1, 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% capacity of the space.

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“All persons in public gatherings, whether in enclosed or open spaces, shall adhere to the provisions of Part 2 of these Regulations.”

Part three stipulates that persons confirmed to have tested positive to COVID-19 by an NCDC accredited laboratory, may not refuse isolation and or admission to a designated health establishment for management of the disease.

Part four deals with penalties stipulate either a fine or six months imprisonment or both for violators.

It read, “Any person who contravenes the provisions of these Regulations commits an offense.

“Any person who, without reasonable cause, contravenes a direction given under Parts 1 and 2 of these Regulations commits an offense.

“Any person who, without reasonable cause, obstructs an authorized official from enforcement of these Regulations commits an offense.

“An offense under these Regulations is punishable, on summary conviction, by a fine or a term of six months imprisonment or both in accordance with Section 5 of the Quarantine Act.”

Part 5 deals with enforcement and application and it read “Personnel of the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the Federal Road Safety Corps, the Nigeria Immigration Service, the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, and other relevant Local Government, State, and Federal Government agencies are hereby directed to enforce the provisions of these Regulations.

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“Any officer of the enforcement agencies who fail neglects, or refuses to enforce the provisions of these Regulations shall be subject to disciplinary action by the disciplinary body of his respective agency.”