Coronavirus: Lawyer wants FG to ban use of school premises for religious gathering
Coronavirus: Lawyer wants FG to ban use of school premises for religious gathering
Coronavirus
By Ruth Oketunde
Abuja, March 16, 2020 (NAN) Mr Nkasiobi Mgbemele, a legal practitioner, has called on the Federal Government to ban the use of school premises as joint offices of public organisations and religious bodies.
Mgbemele, who gave the advice in a statement on Monday in Abuja, said that the ban would reduce the risk of coronavirus outbreak in schools.
He said that sanctions should also be imposed on defaulting organisations and individuals who did not adhere to the ban.
“The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared that the only available remedy to the rampaging coronavirus pandemic is to take action to prevent its spread and mitigate fatality rates.
“It is in response to this declaration that countries around the world are taking drastic preventive measures that include quarantining whole countries and regions, wholesale shut down of public events and closure of educational institutions.
“There is urgent need for governments and relevant agencies in Nigeria to join in taking preventive actions to protect staff, students and pupils of schools.
“Government should please immediately direct schools to stop sharing premises with public organisations including religious bodies and activities in line with extant laws.
“There is possibility of contamination of the school premises by attendees of public religious events in the schools if and when they become infected by the coronavirus.
“Hence the need to now separate schools activities and ban unrestricted public religious activities.
“Sanctions provided in the various laws should be imposed on defaulting organisations and individuals without fear or favour.
“Such sanctions include: closure of the institutions, withdrawal of certificate of registration and imprisonment,” he said. (NAN)
MRO/ESAN/TA
Edited by Abiodun Esan