As part of efforts to curtail the further spread of the deadly Coronavirus disease, the Bauchi State Government has signed into law two executive orders on COVID 19, with various fines imposed on violators of the lockdown order.
The state Governor, Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed who signed the executive orders said the orders are geared towards preventing the spread of the pandemic.
The new executive orders are; Order No 001 of 2020 and the Bauchi State Infectious Diseases Prevention Regulation 2020
The Governor said the orders became necessary to check the spread of COVID-19 among the people of the state, adding that apart from those on essential services who are allowed to operate in the state during the lockdown period, anyone who intentionally breaks the orders will be dealt with.
“In the order, we have spelt out penalties for the offenders. Those who violate the lockdown order will pay N5,000. Violation of the social distance law will attract N5,000 while motorcyclists who violate traffic law will also pay N5,000. We are mandating those on essential duties to wear a face mask, failure to do so will attract the sum of N5,000”
“Tricycles violation of carrying more than two persons will attract the sum of N5,000, Motor vehicle violation of border rules of the state will be made to pay N20,000. A bus coming from Plateau or Kano state without order will pay N20,000 while a truck will pay N30,000. We are doing this with an absolute sense of responsibility, however, we regret any inconveniences that the lockdown order would have caused. We did it in the furtherance of the need to protect lives and properties in Bauchi State” The Governor said
Governor Bala further announced that mobile courts have been set up by the state to enforce the lockdown order, adding that the enforcement has become mandatory given the increasing number of infections in neighbouring states of Kano and Gombe.
