Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State has signed the Ebonyi State Coronavirus and other Dangerous Infectious Diseases And Related Matters bill into law.
The law which was passed on Wednesday by the State House of Assembly legalises the measures taken by the government to curtail the spread of the coronavirus in the state.
Speaking after signing the bill into law in Abakaliki, the governor disclosed that the state government has released the sum of N200million to be used for palliative measures to cushion the effect of the hardship the people might experience during the sit at home period.
According to him, the fund would be used to purchase bags of rice, tomatoes and other food items that would be distributed to the masses to alleviate their suffering and make life more comfortable for them.
The Governor warned against hoarding of foods, drugs and other essential goods and services within the State adding that refusal to provide foods, drugs and other essential goods and services within the State for citizens to buy shall be an offence.
He also stated that artificial inflation of prices of foods, drugs and other essential goods and services within the State shall also constitute an offence.
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“To hoard foods, drugs and other essential goods and services within the State or refusal to provide foods, drugs and other essential goods and services within the State for people to buy shall constitute an offence.
“Where a person breaches any of the above, the culprit(s) shall be prosecuted in accordance with the Law and there shall be seizure and forfeiture of the foods, drugs and other essential goods to the State, and in addition, such forfeited foods, drugs and other essential goods shall be utilized for the purposes of alleviating the supply needs in the State,” the governor said.
Umahi directed that the security agencies and indeed anybody or committee so designated by him shall effect and ensure strict compliance to the law.
He further warned that spreading of fake news about the coronavirus in the state was prohibited.
“The law also prohibits the transmission, or dissemination through a computer system or network or otherwise false information regarding COVID-19 within the State and other Dangerous Infectious Diseases and or any circumstances related to.
“Promotion of unverified, untested, or unapproved cures, vaccines or other similar medicinal items that purport to cure, alleviate or reduce instances of persons infected, or believed to be infected, with COVID-19 or any other Dangerous Infectious Diseases within the State is prohibited”, he declared.
