COVID-19: Showdown Looms In Cross River As Ayade Goes Tougher On ‘No Mask No Movement’ Policy

By CrossRiverWatch Admin

A showdown looms in Cross River state between and appointees of the governor, Benedict Ayade after he directed on Monday that the vehicles commuting passengers without a face mask should be impounded and released only after payment of NGN300,000.

Ayade, had last week, in a statement by his spokesman, Christian Ita, directed that from Monday, April 6th residents would not be allowed to move unless they are wearing a mask.

“Starting from 12am on April 3rd, 2020, no person will be allowed in public without a nose or face mask,” the first statement issued on Wednesday read.

A second issued late on Thursday shifted the commencement date to Monday and directed residents to call “08099911011” in order to get a mask.

But, the failure to distribute masks by the state led to buy pieces of clothing sewn together by tailors for prices ranging between NGN200 and NGN500. Some could be seen using the cups of brassieres to cover their faces.

This is despite a World Health Organisation warning on the use of mask, restricting it to those who are sick and caregivers of the sick.

And, following a review of the poor implementation of his directives, Ayade directed even stricter measures.

“Following the low compliance level with the ‘no mask, no movement’ order in the state, the state governor, His Excellency, Sir Ben Ayade has issued the following directives:

“1. That security agents should henceforth impound any vehicle carrying passengers who are not wearing nose masks

“2. Such impounded vehicles, which must be towed to the secretariat of the COVID-19 task force, should only be released after the payment of N300,000 (three hundred thousand naira) fine by the owner of the vehicle

“3. That Individuals, no matter their standing in the society, who are found in public without nose masks, should be arrested on the spot and quarantined for 14 days.

“4. All appointees of government, with the exception of the expatriates, performing one function or the other at the Cross River State Garment Factory are hereby relieved of such duties with immediate effect.

“5. They are hereby co-opted into the COVID-19 task force.

“6. Consequently, Mr Joseph Edet (la shakara) is appointed the acting Managing Director of the Cross River State Garment Factory with immediate effect.

“7. Granting of approval for an open ended order for supply of nose masks by tailors in the state to the garment factory to meet demands,” the statement read.

To effect the policy on his appointees, a release by the Senior Special Assistant to Mr. Ayade on appointees performance monitoring, Portrait Peterson directed that his fellow appointees should “gather at (the eleven – eleven) 11 roundabout this (Tuesday) morning by 5am to be posted alongside uniform personnel to their respective place of duty to enforce the no mask movement order.”