CORONAVIRUS: Gov Fintiri Signs Executive Order For Adamawa Lockdown

By Barnabas Augustine

1/4/2020

 The Governor of Adamawa State, Rt. Hon. Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri has signed an Executive Order giving legal backing to the imposed lockdown of the State to contain and prevent the spread of coronavirus. 

In a press statement signed and issued by the Press Secretary to the Governor, Humwashi Wonosikou said that the Executive Order is known as “The Health Protection (Coronavirus) Restriction Adamawa State Regulations 2020 Order”. 

Wonosikou maintained that only people who provides essential services would be allowed to move; and or those who are to obtain basic necessities such as water, food, drugs, seeking medical assistance, donating blood, providing care and assistance for vulnerable or for the purpose of work which are classified under essential services within the fourteen days of the lockdown – with effect from midnight Tuesday, 31st March, 2020.

The Press Secretary further said that the Nigeria Police is to enforce the law which the violator of the provisions is liable on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding Fifty Thousand Naira (N50,000.00) six months’ imprisonment or both.

The statement read in parts:

“Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri has signed an Executive Order giving legal backing to the measures taken to contain the spread of Covid-19 throughout the State.

“known as the Health Protection (Coronavirus) Restriction Adamawa State Regulations 2020 Order, it came into force by midnight of Tuesday, 31st March 2020.

“The Restriction Order prohibits a person from leaving His abode without reasonable excuse except to obtain basic necessities such as food, drugs and water within its two-week lifespan.

“Others are seeking medical assistance, providing care and assistance to a vulnerable person, donating blood or for the purpose of work, which are all classified as essential services.

“Therefore, the list of reasonable excuses set out in the Restriction Order is non exhaustive.

“Government expects citizens to exercise caution when considering any undertaking outside those exceptions specifically allowed, as they may have to justify that to the police or other law enforcement agencies and the courts.

“Under the Regulation, the police or law enforcement officers may use reasonable force if there are reasonable grounds to suspect that a person is, or may be infected or contaminated with the Coronavirus and there is a risk that the person might infect others.

“The main purpose of the Order is for protection of citizens and the furtherance of public safety which is the fulcrum of any responsible Government.

“It is an offence under the Restriction Order for a person to provide false or misleading information, or to obstruct any person lawfully enforcing its provisions, without reasonable excuse.

“Furthermore, any person who fails to comply with the provisions is liable on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding Fifty Thousand Naira (N50,000.00) six months’ imprisonment or both.

“Finally, the Governor of Adamawa State is empowered to extend the enforcement of the regulations to a further period as circumstances my warrant”.