Rivers: Violators of COVID-19 protocol to pay N100m fine

As part of the measures to check the spread of coronavirus in Rivers state, violators of the COVID-19 protocol during weddings and burials are now liable to a fine of N100 million.

This is according to new guidelines and penalties stipulated by the state government during an emergency executive council meeting which held on Friday.

Inime Aguma, Rivers commissioner for social welfare and rehabilitation, said applications for marriages must come with an affidavit stating that there will be no reception.

“Government reviewed compliance of citizens as it relates to executive order 16 on the conduct of marriages in the state,” she said.

“Henceforth, applications for marriages must be accompanied with an affidavit stating that there would be no reception. A fine of N100 million awaits defaulters of the extant regulations.

“Local government chairmen are to be held responsible if they fail to monitor compliance in their various areas.”

Princewill Chike, the state commissioner for health, said local government council chairmen across the state have been directed to ensure that the protocols are strictly adhered to in their respective domains.

In June, the state government had issued an executive order stating that anyone who violates the COVID-19 burial protocol will be liable to pay N10 million fine.

The order stipulates that any person intending to hold a public burial in the state, or take a corpse outside the state for burial, must apply to the governor for approval through the state commissioner for health.

“All public burials in Rivers are to be conducted in line with the official gazette of the state which stipulates not more than 50 persons allowed at such ceremonies,” Chike said.

“Henceforth, families applying for burials must provide death certificates and an affidavit that they must adhere strictly to all COVID-19 protocols.

“We also agreed that local government chairmen should assist the burial committees to ensure that this planned directive of the Rivers state executive council is carried out to the letter. Every defaulter of these regulations would be made to pay a fine of N100 million.”

Meanwhile, all secondary schools, vocational schools, universities, and other tertiary institutions in the state are to resume on October 5.

The council, however, did not approve the reopening of primary and nursery schools.