Lagos to drag face mask defaulters to court

The Lagos State Government says it will start charging face mask defaulters to court from next week, insisting the period of grace was over.

Gov Babajide Sanwo-Olu said this while briefing newsmen on the update of the COVID-19 management in the state on Friday, maintaining that personal responsibility was now more important than ever.

He said that such personal responsibility was not only for self-protection but also for protecting other people, including loved ones.

According to him, mask usage is mandatory in public places as a strategy to curb the spread of the virus.

“We are asking offices, business and commercial premises to refuse entry to any persons not wearing masks in line with the Presidential Task Force directive on ”No mask, no entry”

“No mask, no service enforcement agencies will from this week charge defaulters to court, as the period of grace is now over.

“Dear Lagosians, please continue to wash your hands regularly. As much as possible, maintain social distancing, especially in public places.

“On our part as a government, we will continue to do everything possible to protect and uphold the health and wellbeing of the people of the state,” the governor said.

Sanwo-Olu further said that the state government was committed to ramping up testing and isolation capacity and enforcing the guidelines issued.

“With regards to enforcement, we are increasing our focus and efforts in this area. As you all know, guidelines and directives are effective only to the extent to which they are complied with by the citizenry.

“The best laws and guidelines are of no use if they are disregarded by the people for whom they have been issued.

“Lagos State belongs to all of us. We must join hands to ensure that we defeat this virus,” he said.

The governor noted that the state’s COVID-19 hotline remained 08000CORONA.