CoronaVirus Updates
IGP says medical workers, journalists remain exempted from lockdown, curfew
BY NICHOLAS ABE
The Inspector General of Police, IGP Mohammed Adamu, has directed senior police personnel in charge of the zones and state commands to ensure that the categories of workers exempted in the restriction of movement during the curfew hours are given due courtesies as they go about their work.
IGP Adamu said all essential workers, including medical personnel, ambulance service providers, journalists and fire-fighters, remain exempted from the movement restriction orders as well as the national curfew.
The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) Lagos State chapter had directed medical doctors in the state to stay away from work effective 6pm on Wednesday (yesterday), alleging police harassment of its members on essential services during the restriction period.
Adamu, in a statement by the Force PRO, DCP Frank Mba, said it had become necessary to make the clarification “following unending inquiries” on the status of essential workers in respect of the enforcement of the national curfew and inter-state movement restriction orders by the Federal Government.
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The statement reads: “The Force wishes to state that it is not oblivious of the sensitive, indispensable, patriotic and frontline role of the nation’s workforce that falls within the category of Essential Service Providers, particularly as it relates to efforts to curtail and contain the COVID-19 pandemic. To this effect, all essential workers including medical personnel, ambulance service providers, journalists, fire-fighters, etc remain exempted from the movement restriction orders as well as the national curfew.
“Consequently, the Inspector General of Police, IGP M.A Adamu, NPM, mni has directed Zonal Assistant Inspectors-General of Police and State Command Commissioners of Police to give maximum effect to these orders and extend due courtesies to essential service providers so affected and also ensure that personnel deployed for the enforcement duties respect the fundamental rights of the citizens.
“Meanwhile, the IGP enjoins all workers who fall within these categories not to take undue advantage of their positions and privileges to advance other purposes not connected with the performance of their duties within the stated period.”