Nigerian States Plans To Restrict Unvaccinated Individuals from Banks, Places of Worship

Two southern Nigerian state governments instructed their populations to get inoculated against the coronavirus or be banned from religious services and public places, while federal authorities suggested they’re considering restrictions to tackle vaccine hesitancy.

Large gatherings, places of worship and banks will only be accessible to those with proof that they’ve received at least one Covid-19 shot from mid-September, Edo state governor Godwin Obaseki said last week. On Aug. 30, the leaders of neighboring Ondo declared that only the vaccinated can enter churches, mosques, hospitals, government offices and other public places after a two-week grace period. Nigeria comprises 36 states and the capital, Abuja.

Just 150,000 of the approximately 10 million residents of Edo and Ondo have had a vaccine so far, although the inoculation rate has recently picked up, with more than 60,000 shots issued on Aug. 30. Even if the two states can pin down adequate vaccines and distribution accelerates further, the measures will be highly disruptive.

A federal court has ordered Obaseki’s administration to put the curbs on hold while it considers an objection from an Edo resident, and adjourned the case until Sept. 10. Osaigbovo Iyoha, Obaseki’s chief of staff, said efforts to obtain and dispense vaccines “will be redoubled on all fronts.”