Court shuts down Abuja market over COVID-19 violation
- The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has commenced strict enforcement of COVID-19 protocols
- The agency prosecuted some people for violating the protocols at a mobile court
- FCTA disclosed health measures that must be met by markets and shopping malls
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The popular Wuse Market in Abuja was on Monday, February 1, shut down by a mobile court for violating COVID-19 protocols.
The court also ordered the closure of UTC and the Murg shopping malls for the same reason, Guardian reported.
Source: Twitter
About 100 persons who were arrested by the enforcement team for not wearing face masks in public places were convicted by the court.
The court president, Magistrate Idayat Akanni, fined the violators N2,000 each, with an option of two-week community service.
Akanni stated that convicts were given lenient penalties because they were first offenders.
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) COVID-19 enforcement team said the market and plazas were shut because they failed to make provisions for the health safety requirements.
According to The Nation, the spokesperson for the agency, Ikharo Attah, said the management of the facilities must comply with the regulations before the shutdown order can be vacated.
In other news, the wearing of masks is now mandatory in public places in Nigeria according to the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Health Protection Regulations 2021 signed by President Muhammadu Buhari on January 26.
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As a result of this, the inspector-general of police, Mohammed Adamu, has ordered officers to enforce the regulations, Legit.ng can authoritatively report.
With this, failure to heed this directive or listen to the officers enforcing it can lead to an arrest and prosecution in a court of law.
Meanwhile, with coronavirus taking a dangerous curve on the country, the presidential task force on Monday, February 1, announced the list of five states and 22 local government areas in Nigeria with a large spread of the COVID-19 infection.
Addressing pressmen during a media briefing in Abuja, the national coordinator of the PTF, Dr Sani Aliyu, warned Nigerians against travelling to the affected states.
According to him, the high-burdened states and LGAs contribute to 95% of the daily infection.
Source: Legit.ng
