The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has threatened to shut the popular Bannex plaza and EFAB mall at Area 11 if they continue to flout the COVID-19 Health Protection Regulations 2021.
Speaking on behalf of the administration, the Head, Media, Enlightenment and Publicity of the Task Force, Comrade Ikharo Attah, said the warning has become necessary following the flagrant violation of COVID-19 protocols observed in both plazas.
He gave this hint, shortly after a sitting of the FCT mobile court, disclosed that most of the offenders brought before the court were picked up from the two plazas, even as he observed that the affected plazas were found not to have provisions for washing points or temperature machines at their entry points.
Attah, however, warned that the administration would not fold it’s hands and watch the offenders risk the life’s of residents of the territory.
His words; “We went out on routine patrol where looked we looked at key areas. We looked at plazas, we looked at the malls and traffic issues and so far 49 arrests were made and brought before the FCT mobile court. Her Lordship, Idayat Akanni who in her wisdom discharged two persons.
“We observe that many people are getting relaxed and we are getting them to understand that the Presidential Executive Order on COVID-19 protocols is very much in place and we in the FCT under the FCT Minister, Mallam Mohammad Musa Bello, and the Police Commissioner for the FCT Bala Ciroma, are kin at enforcing and ensuring that it actually works.
“From the arrest we made today, we got too many people arrested from the EFAB Plaza at area 11 and Bannex Plaza in Wuse II. These two plazas need to as a matter of extreme urgency, need to put their plazas in order, get all the washing points ready and ensure that those who come into the plaza comply by wearing their face masks. Because at the point we are in now, if the plazas do not comply, we are going to be shutting down Bannex Plaza as well as the EFAB plaza if they fail to comply in the shortest time. When we shut down the Wuse market and UTC plaza, there was much outcry and some persons believed we did not give them much warning. (Independent)