Oyo state govt to begin arrest and prosecution of residents for failure to comply to use of facemask in public
Residents of Oyo state who refuse to comply with the COVID-19 protocol of compulsory use of face mask in public places may be arrested and prosecuted from next month.
A coordinator of enforcement from the state COVID-19 emergency operation centre and risk communication pillar, Mrs Kunmi Oladipo made this known today during an enforcement mission to Bodija market in Ibadan
Mrs Oladipo explained that the state has recorded low level of compliance to the wearing of face mask in public places particularly markets hence the need to reemphasize the importance of the directives and ensure the people duly comply as the battle against coronavirus is still ongoing
She also noted that the enforcement team would within one month sensitize, persuade and ensure compliance but if there was no appreciable improvement, the team might embark on arrest and prosecution.
Similarly, President of environmental health officers association of Nigeria, Oyo state chapter Tijani Adegoke who was on the enforcement team said the state government would not relent in its effort at ensuring compliance to COVID-19 directives in public places, adding that the enforcement team has started restraining people without facemask from gaining access into the market
Some of the traders at the market agreed that the effort of the state government in tackling the virus deserved commendation and promised to adhere to the directives of wearing of facemask as well as provision of hand washing facilities at various points in the market
