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The Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu has cleared all ambiguity on the position of the Nigeria Police Force as it relates to persons on essential duties while enforcing the national curfew and inter-state movement restriction orders emplaced by the Federal Government on April 27 to combat the spread of coronavirus.
Meridian Spy reported yesterday Wednesday, the Lagos Chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association directed its members to proceed on an indefinite sit-at-home strike over incessant harassment of healthcare workers in Lagos by the security agents.
In a press statement jointly signed by the State Chairman of the NMA, Dr Saliu Oseni and the Secretary, Dr Ramon Moronkola, the medical association said more than 50 essential workers were on Tuesday arrested by the police in Lagos, following the directive of Mohammed Adamu, Inspector-General of Police.
“We resolve that all doctors under the auspices of the Nigerian Medical Association in Lagos to proceed on a sit-at-home starting from 6.00pm today, May 20, indefinitely,” The Lagos NMA added.
“Until such time when the state government and the Commissioner of Police are clear on how they wish to operationalise the lockdown/restriction of movement directive as it relates to essential service and service providers, including healthcare services and doctors.”
Hours after, the Force released a statement explaining that it is not oblivious of the sensitive, indispensable, patriotic and frontline 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.
The IGP listed those regarded as ‘Essential Service Providers,’ which include medical personnel, ambulance service providers, journalists, fire-fighters, etc. Adding that they all remain exempted from the movement restriction orders as well as the national curfew.
He further directed Zonal Assistant Inspectors-General of Police and State Command Commissioners of Police “to give maximum effect” to the orders and extend “due courtesies” to them.
The statement partly read: “The Force wishes to state that it is not oblivious of the sensitive, indispensable, patriotic & frontline role of the nation’s workforce that falls within the category of Essential Service Providers particularly as it relates to efforts to curtail & contain the COVID-19 pandemic.
“To this effect, all essential workers including medical personnel, ambulance service providers, journalists, fire-fighters, etc remain exempted from the movement restriction orders as well as the national curfew.
“Consequently, the Inspector General of Police, IGP M.A Adamu, NPM, mni has directed Zonal Assistant Inspectors-General of Police and State Command Commissioners of Police to give maximum effect to these orders and extend due courtesies to essential service providers so affected and also ensure that personnel deployed for the enforcement duties respect the fundamental rights of the citizens.”
The IGP further urged all workers who fall within the category of essential workers 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.
