Niger: Use of face mask compulsory, violators to pay N5,000

An Executive Order for the enforcement of compulsory use of facemask is under way in Niger State.

At a briefing by the state COVID-19 Committee, Governor Abubakar Sani Bello directed his Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, Barrister Nasara Danmalam to prepare the Executive Order for the compulsory use of facemask across the state.

The Executive Order will take effect from Monday, February 1, 2021, although lockdown is not an option, considering the economic hardship.

He said mobile courts would be established to N5000.

The governor also directed that only essential workers should be allowed into public offices, emphasising the need for rapid enlightenment campaign by relevant organisations in the state.

The Commissioner for Health, Mohammed Makun Sidi, a medical doctor, who spoke on behalf of the COVID-19 committee, said the state has 695 confirmed cases spread across 22 of the 25 local councils with 14 deaths, disclosing that of the 16 active cases, 15 are National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members.