The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), on Monday, sealed four parks and gardens within the town Centre for allegedly violating the COVID-19 pandemic guidelines.
It also arrested and brought 12 people to court for an equivalent offences.
The affected parks were Byuan Resources Ltd Resort; Skychef Park and Garden; 7th Option Park and Leisure Service all within Garki II and Eden Park and Garden located in Utako.
Addressing newsmen after the exercise, the head of Media and Enlightenment of FCT COVID-19 Taskforce, Mr Ikharo Attah, said the order to seal off the four gardens for a period of two weeks was issued by the FCT Mobile Court who found them contravening Presidential TaskForce (PTF) COVID-19 regulations, restricting operation of bars, night clubs, gardens and also the likes.
He said 12 people earlier arrested at the four gardens very late within the night, would seem before the Court for the determination of their COVID-19 offences and judgments after expiration of the 2 week-seal off.
According to him: “We went out just before Christmas celebration and met some parks violating COVID-19 regulations and that we did our operation.
“Because we are enforcement officers and not the judge, we arrested and took them to the judge through our prosecutor and therefore the judge found them guilty. Although, the judge gave those arrested the choice of fine, and gave seal off order for the four parks and gardens affected.
“What we observe is that the majority of them operate beyond the period. The persons who were within the shops didn’t comply with physical distancing. Face masks weren’t there in the least and no handwashing points.
“They were totally in breach of the COVID-19 protocol and therefore the judge in his wisdom, Magistrate Egbe Arafe issued seal off order for 2 weeks. After fortnight , we’ll now come to the court and continue the trial,” he explained.
Ikharo, therefore, urged gardens and parks owners or operators to try to to the needful, vowing to focus more on night clubs and have it tough unless they suits the health regulations given by the PTF on COVID-19.
Last week, the country’s COVID-19 infections witnessed yet one more significant increase. Nigeria recorded 5,571 fresh COVID-19 infections which is now the very best weekly cases the country has ever recorded, Tribune Online analysis shows.
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