Niger state House of Assembly members have altered the curfew period declared by Governor Abubakar Sani -Bello on Monday by changing the restriction of movement from 5pm to 8am instead of the earlier 8am to 8pm imposed by the governor.
The House also changed the word curfew to restriction’, arguing that the word curfew sounds despotic and can only be used during violent crisis.
These alterations followed a resolution passed by the House during plenary on Tuesday.
This action is sequel to a motion of urgent public importance moved by the House member representing Bosso Constituency, Malik Bosso on the dusk to dawn curfew imposed by the Gov. Sani- Bello.
The member argued that the dusk to dawn lockdown will worsen the situation than serving as a preventative measure.
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He said with the worsening poverty, hunger and suffering, stopping people from hustling for their daily survival is more suicidal than anything anyone can imagine.
Bosso then called on the government to reconsider its position on the curfew.
Contributing to the debate, a legislator, Husseini Akote, the member representing Gbako Constituency, said that although the move is to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, the economic and social impact of the restriction order will be devastating on the masses.
He said other measures the state government had taking were commendable, especially the sensitization campaigns and other steps taking, but however, insisted that curfew such as the one imposed by the governor will be too harsh on the people.
Another House member representing Suleja, Shuaibu Iya, while contributing to the debate on the motion, said the curfew is more of a military term rather than civil.
He said in a situation where government ought to sympathize with the people, the curfew was a harsh stance from the state government.
Iya said the word restriction was better than curfew and urged the government to rethink its stand, adding that the House is in solidarity with the state government in its efforts to tackle the coronavirus menace.
The House subsequently, passed the motion with a resolution that the word curfew be changed to restriction, just as 5pm to 8am should be the period for the restriction of movement.
It therefore, directed the security agencies to be civil and not to harass, intimidate and extort the citizens as they enforce the restriction order.
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