Buhari signs new Health regulations, mandates wearing of face masks for Nigerians

President Muhammadu Buhari has signed the Coronavirus Disease Health Protection 2021, which mandates the use of face masks in public places, among other measures.

The new regulations were contained in a document signed by the President on Tuesday.

According to the Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha, the President exercised the powers conferred on him by Section 4 of the Quarantine Act, Cap. Q2 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2010 in signing the document.

The regulation made it compulsory for residents to wear face masks within the premises of a market, mall, supermarket, shop, restaurants, hotels, event centres, gardens, leisure parks, recreation centres, and motor parks, amongst others.

It stipulates that no one should be allowed into such public places, “…except he is wearing a face covering that covers the nose and mouth, he washes his hands or cleaned the hands using hand sanitiser approved by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, and his body temperature has been checked.

“Any person found to have a body temperature above 38 degrees Celsius shall be denied entry and advised to immediately seek medical attention.
“No gathering of more than 50 persons shall hold in an enclosed space, except for religious purposes, in which case the gathering shall not exceed 50 per cent capacity of the space.

“All persons in public gatherings, whether in enclosed or open spaces, shall adhere to the provisions of Part 2 of these Regulations.

“The provisions of these regulations may be varied by Guidelines and Protocols as may be issued, from time to time, by the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19 on the recommendation of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control”.