Violators of COVID-19 protocols now face six months in jail, says FG

Any Nigerian or foreign nationals who violates the COVID-19 protocols now risks six months imprisonment, the Federal Government said on Wednesday.

With the signing of COVID-19 Health Protection Regulations 2021 by President Muhammadu Buhari, it is now offence for not wearing face masks, hands washing, and using hand sanitisers among other regulations.

The law is exercise of the powers conferred on the president by Section 4 of the Quarantine Act.

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

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

“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),” Mustapha said.

The law also states:“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 PTF chairman Saif 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.

“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.”