Hundreds of Lagosians attended several wedding events that held across Lagos on Saturday — defying government advisory about potentially harmful impli
Hundreds of Lagosians attended several wedding events that held across Lagos on Saturday — defying government advisory about potentially harmful implications of gathering in large numbers amidst the coronavirus pandemic, PremiumTimes is reporting.
Lagos recorded the first case of COVID-19, a respiratory disease spawned by coronavirus, in Nigeria on February 27. The commercial city has continued to report additional cases since then, with federal health authorities putting the state’s case at 16 out of the total 22 cases confirmed in the country.
Lagos State was one of the earliest states to announce the closure of schools and prohibition of large gathering of more than 50 people. The state also asked club owners and event centre operators to shut down business for at least one month in the first instance. Health officials racing to contain the virus would use the period to appraise their efforts.
As the growing number of COVID-19 infections across the country continued to stoke confusion amongst its nearly 200 million population, with limited treatment tools available, federal and state officials announced drastic restrictions aimed at containing the spread.
But some Lagosians who attended weddings said the advisory, while crucial and understandable, should be imposed gradually to enable them adjust to it. At least over 500 people attended events in Ikeja area of Lagos. Both figures greatly surpassed the 50 people cap on social gathering in the state.
Ibrahim Owolabi said the restriction was necessary but said its enforcement could be problematic because emergency powers have not been exerted by the president.
“Since the president has not announced a state of emergency, the action of state governments to restrict movement and association could be subjected to legal challenge,” legal analyst Ibrahim Owolabi said.
But Lagos officials said all restrictions would be enforced and some of the identified venues of social activities have been closed on Saturday.
“We are closing down places where weddings are being held in defiance of existing order,” Gbenga Omotoso, Lagos information commissioner. Our officials at LASEPA [Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency] have started closing down event centres that defied the directive of the governor and health institutions.”
The commissioner was unable to immediately say whether wedding organisers or event centre owners or both parties would be held legally liable for the alleged “criminal disobedience of (a) lawful order.”
