- As FCT Seals Jabi Lake Mall
By Oyinlola Awonuga (The New Diplomat’s Entertainment Fashion and Sports Desk)
In strong terms, Nigerians have come down heavily on controversial musician, Azeez Fasola (Naira Marley) for breaching the Covid-19 protocol once again by organizing a musical concert in Abuja despite the rising Covid-19 cases in the country.
Although, the concert was initially planned to be a drive-in concert at the Jabi Lake Mall, fun seekers violated social distancing as people crowded the venue.
The musician was earlier arrested on April 6, 2020, for violating the lockdown rules by attending a house party organised by actress, Funke Akindele, and her husband Abdul Rasheed Bello.
Nigerians on social media condemned Naira Marley’s action, lambasting the artiste for holding a concert without regard to social distancing at a time when the country is still in the thick of its Covid-19 battle.
Many also called for his immediate arrest for violating the COVID-19 protocol again despite being found wanting on the same civil disobedience last April.
Following his arrest in April, he was later released after tendering a written apology to the Lagos State Government and an undertaking that he would henceforth comply with the government’s stay-at-home and social distancing directives, something he has flagrantly violated again.
However, some piled the blame on the government for failing to stop his travel to Abuja, as well as allowing the concert event as it was learnt that Naira Marley who is believed to have a knack for controversy and passing on negative influence and energy to young people, flew from Lagos to Abuja with Ex-BBNaija star, Kimoprah, despite the ban on interstate movement and flights.
On Sunday, the Federal Capital Territory FCT would later react to the embarrasing development through its Ministerial Enforcement Task team on COVID -19 Restrictions.
The Task team has sealed up the Jabi Lake Mall indefinitely for violating the Presidential Task Force’s directives on the ban on public gatherings.
Below are some of the reactions:
This unfortunate concert by Naira Marley was put together by Play Network Africa, Traffic Bar, El'Carnival and was proudly sponsored by Glenfiddich.
Silverbird Entertainment Centre was the venue while Nairabox and Ariiya sold the tickets.
There, you have your Covidiots! https://t.co/A8K347Vfy8
— Demola Of Lagos (@OmoGbajaBiamila) June 14, 2020
Naira Marley did it first with Funke Akindele. Sincere there was no stringent punishment for that I know he'll repeat it, and voilà he did it again in Abuja overnight.
Lawless citizens, lawless govt, lawless nation.
— AyeMojubar (@ayemojubar) June 14, 2020
They restricted inter state travel yet Naira Marley still found a way to teleport himself and his team from Lagos to Abuja 👏🏽
— E-zrael Ani (@EzraelAni) June 14, 2020
Naira Marley had a concert in Abuja in the middle of a pandemic and the place was packed full of people
Do people not care about their lives or they don't believe covid-19 is real?
— Instablog9ja (@instablog9ja) June 14, 2020
Naira marley need to be taught a good lesson, nigga used his influence to be give false alarm abt coro in 9ja and get away with it, He attended funke Akindele's house party and get away with it and now he performed at the Capital yesterday??? E be things shaa.
— Al'ameen✨ (@Al_ameen_Yabo) June 14, 2020
Naira Marley did a concert in Abuja amid Covid-19. With HUGE CROWD. He came in from LAGOS.
Peculiar Mess
— Ayekooto (@DeeOneAyekooto) June 14, 2020
