Ekiti Govt. Decries Hawking of Facemasks by Children

Ekiti State Government has frowned at children selling facemasks on the streets across the city of Ado-Ekiti.

The Commissioner for Information and Values Orientation, Mr Muyiwa Olumilua, who made this known at a press briefing on COVID 19 in Ado-Ekiti, described the act as child abuse which was punishable under the law.

Mr Olumilua maintained that henceforth, any child caught selling facemasks on the highways and major streets in Ekiti would be arrested, while the parents of such child would be prosecuted for child labour and abuse.

He observed that Ekiti State Government under the present administration was against actions violating the child rights and it would not hesitate to deal decisively with anyone caught sending their children to sell on the highways and major streets in the state.

On her part, the Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr Mojisola Yahaya-Kolade said that Government would soon begin the random testing of the people on COVID-19 to know the state of their health.

Dr. Yaya-Kolade, who explained that there would be no harassment, persuasion and coercion during the exercise, pointed out that it would be voluntary.

She said that the health workers would be trained and retrained on ways to handle the matter.

Also, the Coordinator Ekiti State COVID 19 Taskforce, Professor Bolaji Aluko urged the people to always report the name, address and phone numbers of those who sneak into the state, adding that this would go a long way in addressing the issue of imported cases of Coronavirus into Ekiti.

Oriola Afolabi