Anthony Iwuoma
The Federal Government, on Thursday, made wearing of face masks compulsory for Nigerians.
Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and Chairman, Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, Mr. Boss Mustapha, announced this, in Abuja, at the joint national briefing of the Task Force.
Mr. Mustapha said the use of face mask is no longer by choice but a directive backed by law, which is one of the precautionary measures to check the spread of COVID-19 in the law signed by President Muhammadu Buhari.
He, therefore, charged security agencies to ensure that Nigerians comply with it.
The PTF chairman said, “There is a question that has to do with usage of face masks, whether it is optional or not. No, the fact that we are persuasive does not mean that there is an option to it.
“It was part of the declaration that was signed by Mr. President. All the protocols that were predicted by the authority vested on Mr. President by the Quarantine Act. And once he attested his signature to that, it has the force of law.
“Our appeal is that this is a collective effort that each and every Nigerian should be responsible to himself and other Nigerians to wear a mask, not necessarily a medical mask.
“That is why we said mask or cloth covering so that our people would not be going to pick things from the dustbin and be hanging on their faces,” Mustapha said.
He said: “It is not in any way optional but a must,” adding that even a handkerchief could serve the purpose.
“And we are appealing to the security agencies and the state governments and sub-national entities that have the power of enforcement to do that.
“It is very important that we inculcate the culture of doing things to the overall benefits of all,” he added.
