On March 31, Nigeria joined the list of countries across the world to relax COVID-19 measures. In Abuja, the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 said the use of face masks in open spaces had become optional, while the decision on the final relaxation of measures would be taken after Easter.

The relaxation was a result of a drop in the number of daily COVID-19 cases.

Muktar Muhammed, head of the Technical Secretariat and the Secretary of the PSC on COVID-19, who spoke to newsmen, also announced an end to demands for proof of PCR tests from fully vaccinated travellers.

“We are easing up restrictions, but it’s important we do so responsibly,” he said.

“Last week, we suspended the limit placed on public gatherings, curfews and other social measures. The use of face masks in open spaces is now discretionary.

“Our biggest fear now is the upcoming Easter holidays. If we are able to cross and the cases continue to go down with no significant increase in hospitalisation and death, then certainly, we will lower our level of alertness and relax most of the measures.”

However, despite this relaxation and optional use of nose masks, institutions like banks and shopping malls are still enforcing its use.

When FIJ visited Maryland Mall in Lagos, all were asked to don their nose masks before entry.

A Twitter user with the handle @Mz_Tosyn, also recently complained about denial of entry into a GT bank in Abuja without a nose mask.

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“The security at @gtbank Jabi are selling nose masks and are not allowing people without nose masks to enter even after FG said no nose mask,” she tweeted.

The security at @gtbank jabi are selling nose mask and are not allowing people without nose mask to enter even after FG said no nose mask

— Emerald 💚 هداية (@Mz_Tosyn) April 20, 2022

Temitope Omoniyi, another tweep, also shared their experience under this tweet, saying the same was happening in Ilorin.

“Same in Ilorin. This was taken Tuesday, April 12, 2022, at Tanke Junction. The security man claimed he hadn’t been issued any fresh directive,” he wrote.

Same in Ilorin.
This was taken Tuesday, April 12, 2022 at Tanke Junction.
The security man claimed he hadn't been issued any fresh directive.. https://t.co/UwdqLBNfi7 pic.twitter.com/akFb5n3XLu

— Teetop 🇳🇬 (@TemitopeOmoniyi) April 20, 2022

When FIJ reached out to Festus Ogun, a legal practitioner, he said that given the federal government has relaxed the policy, all other institutions should equally do the same.

However, he added that their insistence on nose masks could be precautionary.