Buhari signs law criminalising non-wearing of facemasks

President Muhammadu Buhari has signed a law to check the spread of COVID-19 pandemic.

It criminalises non-wearing of face masks. It emphasises hands washing, and the use of hand sanitisers, among other regulations.

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

Mustapha said that the bill, titled “COVID-19 Health Protection Regulations 2021”, is an exercise of the powers as conferred on the president by Section 4 of the Quarantine Act.

“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 law provides for wearing of face masks, hands washing, and the use of hand sanitisers, amongst other regulations. “It stipulates a penalty of a fine or a prison of six months for offenders.

“The President said that the law takes immediate effect.”