The Nigerian Government has announced plans to stop travellers from Brazil, India and Turkey from enetering Nigeria due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Nigeria announced new travel advisory which kicks off from Monday, May 4th concerning international flights coming from these countries. According Johns Hopkins University’s released data on Sunday, current global caseload and death toll stood at 151,774,770 and 3,188,331, respectively.
Brazil records 406,437 fatalities, India 211,853, while Turkey has recorded 4,849,408 cases, it crossed the 40,000 fatalities.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and Chairman, Presidential Steering Committee (PSC), on COVID-19 Boss Mustapha, in a recent statement disclosed;
“The following measures shall apply to airlines and passengers who fail to comply with I and II(a) above:
i Airlines shall mandatorily pay a penalty of $3,500 (Three Thousand Five Hundred dollars) for each defaulting passenger.
ii. Non-Nigerians will be denied entry and returned to the country of embarkation at cost to the Airline.
“Nigerians and those with permanent resident permit shall undergo seven days of mandatory quarantine in a Government approved facility at the point-of-entry city and at cost to the passenger. The following condition shall apply to such passengers:
i. Within 24 hours of arrival shall take a COVID-19 PCR test
ii. If positive, the passenger shall be admitted within a government-approved treatment centre, in line with National treatment protocols.
iii. If negative, the passenger shall continue to remain in quarantine and made to undergo a repeat PCR test on day seven of their quarantine.
“Passenger(s) arriving in Nigeria from other destinations. Must observe a seven day self-isolation at their final destination. Carry out a COVID-19 PCR test on day 7 at selected laboratory. Shall be monitored for compliance to isolation protocol by appropriate authorities,” he said.
Mustapha further reiterated that passengers who present false or misleading contact information would be liable to prosecution.
“Person who will-fully disregard or refuse to comply with directions of Port-Health staff, security agencies or evade quarantine shall be prosecuted in accordance with the law,” he said.
The travel advisory shall come into effect from May 4 day 2021. The PSC chairman also added that the guidelines were subject to review after an initial period of four weeks.
