IGP: JOURNALISTS, MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS, OTHER ESSENTIAL DUTY WORKERS EXEMPTED FROM RESTRICTIONS
IGP Mohammed A. Adamu
The Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), DCP Frank Mba, has in a press statement clarified and reaffirmed that “All essential workers comprising of medical personnel, firefighters, ambulance services, journalists etc. are exempted from the restriction to the movement associated with both the partial lockdown and the national curfew across the federation, Trek Africa gathers.
“The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Mohammed A. Adamu has therefore directed all Zonal Assistant Inspectors-General of Police and Commissioners of Police to give effect to these exemptions while enforcing the restriction orders.”
The change of heart by the police is believed to have followed a wave of complaints made to the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 (PTF).
In yet another statement, late yesterday, the police IGP stated: “The Force wishes to state that it is not oblivious of the sensitive, indispensable, patriotic and front-line role of the nation’s workforce that falls within the category of essential service providers particularly as it relates to efforts to curtail and contain the COVID-19 pandemic.
“To this effect, all essential workers including medical personnel, ambulance service providers, journalists, fire-fighters etc., are exempted from the movement restriction orders as well as the national curfew.”
The IGP however admonished “all workers who fall within these categories not to take undue advantage of their positions and privileges to advance other purposes not connected with the performance of their duties within the stated period.”
