COVID- 19 Curfew: Lagos Doctors, Health Workers To Stay At Home Indefinitely Due To Police Harassment

 

The Lagos State chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has directed its members to sit at home from 6 pm today, Wednesday, May 20, 2020, following the curfew imposed on the state by the government. .

The order was given following reports that men of the Lagos state police command barricaded roads in the state from 8pm and prevented people from plying.

In a statement signed by the Chairman, Dr. Saliu Oseni and the Secretary of the association, Dr. Moronkola Ramon, the NMA deplored the comment of the Commissioner of Police in Lagos state to the effect that essential workers, including doctors and other health workers, are not exempted from the restriction.

“We have observed that despite the directive of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari, through the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, which was clear on the exemption of essential workers including doctors and other health workers from the ongoing lockdown movement restriction.

“The Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Mr. Hakeem Odumosu, has been issuing conflicting directives on social and mainstream media to effect that essential workers including doctors and other health workers are not exempted.

The association revealed that the confusion has led to the harassment and intimidation of its members and other health workers, including stopping an ambulance from conveying a patient from getting to its destination.

“As a direct result of the conflicting directives of the government and Lagos State Commissioner of Police, the Lagos State branch of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), was inundated yesterday (Tuesday, May 19, 2020) evening with several cases of harassment and intimidation of doctors and other health-workers by officers and men of the Lagos State police command on the direct order of the commissioner of police to the extent that even ambulances carrying patients with emergency cases were impounded.

“The NMA has resolved that it is presently unsafe for members to continue to provide healthcare services under the arrangement”.

READ ALSO: Banks, Selected Businesses to open from 9am to 3pm in Lagos from May 4 – Sanwo-Olu

The association vowed that its members will not go back to work until a written statement is issued by the government and police authorities stating in clear terms the status of essential workers as the curfew enforcement continues.

“All medical doctors in Lagos State are hereby advised to proceed on a sit-at-home, in their best interest starting from 6 pm today Wednesday, May 20, 2020, indefinitely, until otherwise advised”.

See Full Statement Below:

 

 

The Inspector-General of Police had on Tuesday rescinded the order restricting the movement of essential workers.

According to security officials enforcing the order, health workers and journalists could not be allowed to move around after 8 pm.

However, in a statement, IGP Mohammed Adamu said essential workers can now go about their essential duties.

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