The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has assured Nigerians of strict enforcement of the COVID-19 regulations as infection cases and death keep rising.
The regulations, signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari, make the wearing of facemasks in public compulsory in the country which only a few people had been complying to.
Speaking in an interview with the media in Abuja, the Force Public Relations Officer, Mr Frank Mba, a Commissioner of Police (CP), explained that the police was working assiduously to ensure adequate compliance to the order.
He said, “The Nigeria Police is charged with the responsibility of enforcing all laws and regulations that are legitimate in this country and one of our core responsibilities is to enforce such orders. We will in that same spirit and manner enforce this current order.
“On our part, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu, has already made adequate provisions for facemasks for Police personnel, so we also expect Police officers to lead by example by wearing their masks.
“We are one of those institutions that have consistently encouraged the wearing of the facemask. For us, it is something we believe in and we will enforce it.”
Mr Mba also appealed to Nigerians to voluntarily comply with the order designed to ensure adequate prevention and the spread of the virus, adding, “Our appeal basically is for Nigerians to voluntarily comply with that order.
“Our desire would be that Nigerians would comply with the order, that they voluntarily wear facemasks and observe all other protocols designed to ensure the management and prevention of the spread of COVID-19.
“However, where for any reason, citizens feel or deliberately ignore the order, we would have no choice than to ensure that they comply with the order,” he said.