Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the governor of Lagos State, has charged security agents to be friendly in enforcing the lockdown directed by the president. The lockdown order was announced on Sunday, March 29, 2020 and commenced in Lagos by 11 pm, Monday 30 March, 2020.
The Governor called for high professionalism on the part of the enforcement team in dealing with erring persons, cautioning that high-handedness may lead to violation of the human rights of residents. Sanwo-Olu gave the charge on Monday in a discussion with commanders of all security formations in the State during a Security Council meeting held at the State House in Marina.
President Buhari had announced 14-day cessation of movement in Lagos, Federal Capital Territory, FCT, and Ogun State as part of the steps to stop the spread the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) in the country. Lagos is the worst hit among the three states locked down by the Federal Government.
Briefing the press after the meeting, the commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, who spoke on behalf of the Council, said the presidential directive would be fully implemented, stressing that commanders of each security agency had resolved to comply with the Governor’s entreaty.
He said the enforcement of the restriction order would be executed with a human face, but pleaded with residents and inter-state commuters to exercise self-compliance with the presidential directive.
He said: “We have just concluded a Security Council meeting with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and as commanders of security agencies in Lagos, we have fully digested the presidential directive on COVID-19. We have all resolved now to comply and enforce all the restrictions.
“The enforcement of the restrictions and all directives will be done with a human face. We want to appeal to members of the public; what matters most is self compliance. They must try as much as possible to comply voluntarily to the laid down-regulations so that we can collectively defeat the pandemic.”
The Lagos police boss said those who had been exempted in the presidential directive would be allowed to move unhindered at any time of the day in the containment period, but added that the exemption was not blanket.
Odumosu said some other professionals and government officials on essential duties would be allowed to move, but said their leadership must obtain clearance from security agencies before sending out staff to work.
He said: “The exemption is not blanket. Some other measurements will still be attached to it and sent to various government ministries in the state. The Commissioners in charge of these ministries will have a review and confirm those who are exempted are actually qualified to be exempted.”
Hattip to The Nation
