Edo and Ondo states have announced plans to ban unvaccinated people from visiting public spaces especially banks. Governor Obaseki of Edo state said on Wednesday that anyone without proof of vaccination will not be granted access to crowded facilities.
Ondo state is towing the same line stating that only vaccinated residents would be allowed to enter churches, mosques, hospitals, and government offices after a 2 weeks grace period.
The Edo state governor disclosed this in a news briefing in Benin on Wednesday, also threatening the possibility of a lockdown as the state has been hit hard by the 3rd wave.
Obaseki said, “The attention of Edo government has been drawn to an order by a High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers directing government to maintain the status quo on the purported compulsory COVID-19 vaccination for citizens.
“To the best of our knowledge, the order is, at best, speculative and preemptive, as the scheduled date for the commencement of enforcement of the directive is the second week of September.
“We want to reiterate that our directive on vaccination stands,” Obaseki said.
“Anyone without this proof will not be granted access to crowded facilities,” he added.
The governor urged that those planning social, religious, political or business events after the second week of September should ensure that both themselves and their guests are not only vaccinated but possess vaccination cards as proof.
Meanwhile, reports also say a Federal High Court on Tuesday ordered the Edo State Government to put its plans on hold while it considers an objection from an Edo resident, and adjourned the case until September 10.
The News Agency of Nigeria reported that the Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD), a Non-Governmental Organisation, on Wednesday in Abuja, faulted the plan of the Edo state government to make COVID-19 vaccination compulsory in the state.
“We are concerned about the governor’s directives restricting persons without COVID-19 certificate from public gatherings in the state.
“This is not well-thought-out recognising that there are still barriers that hinder many people from assessing health care services on equal basis with others.
“Our recent study on access to COVID-19 vaccine among persons with disabilities in Lagos and Abuja shows that access to COVID-19 vaccine among citizens in these two places is restrictive.
“There are still institutional, attitudinal and environmental barriers that hinder citizens with disabilities from accessing primary health care services in Nigeria on equal basis with others.
“Edo state, in particular, is one of the states without a law that prohibits discrimination on the grounds of disability.
“Also, there is no enabling framework that ensures equal access and opportunity to government services and programmes in Edo state,” they said.
The Edo state government reported last week that the rising death toll in its 3rd wave of covid rose to 11 as of 30th August.
