Nigerian states on Thursday announced the compulsory use of facemasks to halt the spread of coronavirus.
Osun, Ondo, Niger, and Ebonyi joined Lagos, Ogun and Cross Rivers as states where everyone must wear a facemask in public.
Osun State Governor Adegboyega Oyetola said the mandatory use of facemasks will take effect from today.
His Chief Press Secretary, Ismail Omipidan, said it was in line with resolutions reached by the Southwest governors.
Oyetola reiterated that the sit-at-home order was still in place while urging residents to continue to maintain social distancing and to wash hands regularly.
Niger State government said anyone found without a facemask would be arrested.
Governor Abubakar Sani Bello, who gave the directive on Thursday, said: “Please stay at home and if you must go out, ensure that you wear a facemask.
“Anyone found outside his house without a facemask will be arrested by security agents. They have been mandated to enforce this directive.”
Bello said over 300,000 locally-made facemasks would be distributed free of charge.
Ondo State yesterday extended the mandatory use of facemasks by one week. It was to take effect today.
Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Donald Ojogo, said: “The shift in the commencement date is as a result of the apparent scarcity of the masks in desirable quantities. The government has intensified efforts to produce enough within this period of grace.”
Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi, said anyone seen in public without a facemask would be flogged.
He directed members of the state Anti-COVID-19 Taskforce to flog anybody seen moving about without a facemask no matter their status.
Umahi said during a broadcast on Wednesday: “Let me warn again that no face mask in Ebonyi State, no public movement.
“If you don’t have facemask and you are out, I am directing the local government chairmen to use their men to inflict minimum compliance which is the use of the cane.”
The governor asked all political appointees to return to their local government areas to monitor compliance.
“If there is any case of the virus in the local government, we will lock down that location 200 radius and quarantine everybody there. No going in, no coming out,” he said.
The Ebonyi COVID-19 taskforce was accused of high-handedness after it allegedly killed Chidi Agwu-Arua during an enforcement operation.
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) blamed the taskforce in Afikpo South for the killing, but the state denied it.
Also yesterday, Kwara Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq announced the extension of the state’s lockdown by another 14 days.
Akwa Ibom State government extended the Quarantine and Movement Restriction Order by three days.
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