Some residents of Ibadan, Oyo State capital and its environs, have expressed their displeasure over the continued enforcement of face masks use by business operators.

They expressed their feelings in separate interviews on Sunday in Ibadan, over the continued enforcement of COVID-19-related “no mask, no entry” by business operators within the Ibadan metropolis.

The federal government had on March 31, said that the wearing of face masks in public places was no longer compulsory, as efforts were being made to ease up COVID-19 restrictions across the country.

Atinuke Atilola, a civil servant, said that many businesses had refused to stop the use of masks policies, thus making it frustrating to patronise such businesses.

“I went to one of the old generation banks without my face mask, well aware of the federal government’s directive on masks wearing. Others and I were prevented from gaining entrance into the banking hall without putting on our face masks.

“So, what is the purpose of asking for face coverings before entering and removing it once you are inside,” she said.

Funke Wale, a university student, said that many businesses continue to take matters into their own hands by requiring face coverings, thereby shunning the federal government’s directive.

“Some of those businesses have seen the continued use of masks as a money spinning venture for them.

“Because, if you go to such places without your masks, their security will be the ones offering to sell the masks to you at outrageous prices,” Mrs Wale said.

A virologist, Olubusuyi Adewumi, said that the decision to continue to enforce the use of masks was not guided by science.

Mrs Adewumi said that people were not taught the proper use of the masks.

“Unfortunately, personnel usually responsible for the enforcement of the directive don’t have any reason other than ‘it is an order from the management,” she said.

Also, a public health physician, Temitope Hussein, said it was wrong for those business centres to make face coverings compulsory after the federal government had advised that their use in public places was no longer compulsory.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Oyo State branch, said it supported the federal government’s decision on suspension of the use of nose masks in public places.

Its chairman, Ayotunde Fasunla, said that the rules on use of face masks have not been completely abolished by the government.

Mr Fasunla said that the use of masks was still required in certain high-risk settings, including hospitals.

“NMA’s advice to the whole community is that we should not let down our guard against COVID-19; it is still ongoing with different unknown variants,” he said. 

(NAN)