Following the statement made by the Governor of Rivers State, Nyelsom Wike, that those who move about in public places without facemask risk arrest, the commissioner for Information in the state, Pastor Paulinus Nsirim, said the government would soon begin arrest of defaulters.
The Commissioner in a statement by his Special Adviser, Soibu Max Alalibo said the defaulters when arrested would be prosecuted accordingly.
“If you go around the State since the Executive Order on face mask was introduced, you’ll notice that less than 30 per cent of the populace is really obeying the Executive Order. What we see in the State is that people just put the mask under their chin, including in the churches.
“The Governor is saying that to grant the wearing of face mask the kind of weight it deserves, to save our people, a special Task Force to monitor it will be put in place. That is the only sure way.”
He said the governor earlier expressed concern that many people in the state were not obeying the protocols of social distancing and wearing of face mask.
He pointed out that when government introduces policies, the onus is on the populace to obey those policies.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has defied medical solutions for now. So, to flatten the curve, everyone living and doing business in Rivers State needs to take responsibility.”
“It’s important that everyone living and doing business in Rivers State should have the kind of passion that His Excellency has to flatten the curve. He’s desirous that Rivers State remains safe.
“That’s why every day he’s enunciating policies to ensure that strategically, the State is isolated from the national spread”.
