Governors Urged Buhari to Make Wearing of face Mask Compulsory,

Nigeria’s state governors have asked President Muhammadu Buhari to approve the compulsory use of face masks publicly, because the president’s 14-day lockdown of Lagos, Abuja, and Ogun expires on Monday, April 27.
 

With Lagos, Abuja, and Ogun already under federally imposed lockdowns since March 30, various states like Kano, Rivers, and Osun have instigated their own containment measures.

The states have also restricted interstate movement during a bid to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). However, they now want the president to travel one better as he prepares for an additional national broadcast.

According to a Reuters report, the 36 governors believe that Buhari’s approval for the compulsory use of face masks publicly is required to make sure a consistent and coordinated policy at federal and state levels to tackle the virus, the letter from the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) said.

Two presidency sources told the press agency that the request had taken the shape of a suggestion to the president’s task force on COVID-19. They said the task force would brief him on the suggestion on Sunday.

In a nutshell, the governors want Buhari’s next set of coronavirus measures to include a lockdown on flights and on interstate movement, restrictions on large gatherings, and overnight curfews, also as making the utilization of face masks publicly compulsory.

The movement of food, beverages, medical and pharmaceuticals, petroleum supplies, and agricultural products should be exempt, said the governors.