COVID-19 Lockdown: Bauchi Governor Signs Executive Order 001
…Violators to pay various fines
BY ADEYEMI AKANJI, BAUCHI – Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State has signed into law an Executive Order 001 on COVID-19 tagged; “Bauchi State Infectious Disease Prevention Regulations, 2020.”
Speaking shortly after signing the order on Tuesday, Governor Mohammed explained that the Order covers the COVID-19 partial lockdown and the State Infectious Disease Prevention Regulations aimed at checking the spread of the infection in the state.
The governor after announcing the penalties for offenders of the order, directed the Chief Judge of the state to commence the enforcement of the order.
He said; “This day is very auspicious in my tenure as the governor that we are singing an Executive Order in line with the directive we have given, which is to stop the spread of coronavirus.
“We are coming with this order because we are always governed by the rule of law, we must clearly set out what we want to achieve, we have done the partial lockdown, we have closed markets partially, we have banned the operations of Achaba, we have restricted the number of persons to be taken in Keke Napep, and we have suspended all public gatherings”.
“We are doing it with absolute sense of responsibility, and we regret any inconveniences this may cause, but we are doing it in order to protect the lives of our citizens in Bauchi state.”
On the penalties for offenders, Governor Mohammed said those who violate the partial lockdown would pay N5,000, those on essential services must use face masks or pay the same amount of N5,000 while Achaba operators who default in the ban order are to pay N5,000 also.
According to him, violators of physical and social distancing in Keke Napep, vehicles, bus coming from other states as well as trucks will pay N5,000, N10,000, N20,000, N20,0000 and N30,000 respectively.
The governor who announced the arrest of over 100 passengers who came in to the state from high risk states of coronavirus, said that all the measures are to curb and tackle the spread of the virus in the state.
The State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barrister Yakubu Bello Kirfi, had explained that the signing of the order was as a result of the current outbreak of Coronavirus.
Kirfi said; “Bauchi state government has taken measures to address issues affecting lives, Health and wellbeing of its citizens through certain pronouncement.”
