Breaking: Buhari signs law ordering 6-months jail term for anyone who disobeys COVID-19 protocol
- President Buhari has confirmed that anyone who disobeys the coronavirus guideline will be imprisoned with a new health regulation
- Amid the battle with the pandemic, the Nigerian leader on Wednesday, January 27, signed the COVID-19 health protection regulations 2021
- The protection regulations makes the use of face masks in public places compulsory
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As Nigeria continues to battle the second wave of the coronavirus pandmeic, President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday, January 27, signed the COVID-19 Health Protection Regulations 2021 in Abuja.
Legit.ng gathered that this was made known in a tweet by the federal ministry of information and culture via its official Twitter handle @FMICNigeria. Read the full health protection regulations here.
The new law makes the use of face masks in public places compulsory and imposes a fine or six-month jail term for anyone convicted for disobeying any COVID-19 guideline.
Source: Twitter
President Muhammadu Buhari has signed a new law prescribing six-month jail term for persons convicted for disobeying any COVID-19 guideline.
The regulation is in line with the exercising of the powers conferred on Buhari by Section 4 of the Quarantine Act, Cap. Q2 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2010.
Though most of the regulations are already in place, the legal instrument provides a legal backing for defaulters to be prosecuted.
The new law states that any offence under the regulations is punishable by a fine or a term of six months imprisonment or both in accordance with Section 5 of the Quarantine Act.
This is coming almost a year after the Nigerian leader signed the COVID-19 Regulations, 2020, into law.
Femi Adesina, the special adviser to the president, revealed this in a statement, saying that COVID-19 has been declared a dangerous infectious disease.
The presidential spokesman went on to note that the Act is in line with the exercising of the powers conferred on Buhari by Sections 2, 3 and 4 of the Quarantine Act (CAP Q2 LFN 2004), and all other powers enabling him on that behalf.
FG extends eased COVID-19 lockdown
Meanwhile, Legit.ng reported that the federal government has extended phase three of eased COVID-19 lockdown by one month.
The Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 announced this on Monday, January 25. The chairman of PTF, Boss Mustapha, made this known at the weekly briefing of the task force in Abuja.
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FG sends serious warning to Nigerians
In a related development, the COVID-19 presidential task force warned that if Nigerians are not careful there could be another lockdown.
According to the National Incident Manager of the PTF, Dr. Mukhtar Muhammad, though the government would be reluctant in taking such a decision, it will, however, take it if circumstances warrant it.
He however said the PTF was working with governors on achieving successful enforcement of already issued guidelines and protocols across the country.
Source: Legit.ng
