The Federal Government has introduced that it’s going to bar passengers who’ve visited India, Brazil and Turkey previously 14 days from coming into the nation.
This is a part of precautionary measures launched by the federal government to scale back the chance of a spike in Covid-19 infections resulting from travellers coming from different nations as considerations over the brand new wave of coronavirus illness in some elements of the world continues to mount.
This new journey advisory which is topic to assessment after an preliminary interval of 4 weeks, will take impact from Tuesday, May 4, 2021.
This disclosure is contained in a press release titled, “Travel Advisory For Passengers Arriving Nigeria From Brazil, India and Turkey,’’ issued by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation who additionally doubles because the Chairman Presidential Task Force (PTF) on Covid-19, Boss Mustapha, over the weekend.
The Federal Government in its assertion threatened to impose a effective of $3,500 per passenger on any airline that fails to stick to those directions as a way to guarantee airways take these new tips critically.
Also, as half of the new regime of Covid-19 prevention measures, the federal authorities has decreased the validity interval of the pre-boarding COVID-19 PCR take a look at for all Nigeria-bound passengers from 96 hours to 72 hours. This implies that PCR take a look at outcomes older than 72hours earlier than departure shall not be accepted.
The assertion from Mustapha reads, “The Government of Nigeria deeply empathises with the residents and governments of those nations, and assures them of our dedication, unflinching assist and solidarity right now of want.
In our effort to proceed to safeguard the well being of the Nigerian inhabitants, in addition to to attenuate the chance of a surge within the variety of COVID-19 instances in Nigeria, the Presidential Steering Committee carried out a threat evaluation of nations with excessive incidence of instances. The threat evaluation took into consideration the epidemiology of instances, prevalence of variants of concern and common passenger quantity between Nigeria and every nation amongst different indicators.
Of the nations assessed, this interim journey advisory applies to a few (3) nations within the first occasion. These precautionary measures are a obligatory step to attenuate the chance of a surge in COVID-19 instances launched to Nigeria from different nations, whereas nationwide response actions proceed.’’
Insisting Nigerians are strongly suggested to keep away from any non-essential worldwide travels to any nation at this era and particularly to nations which are exhibiting a rising variety of instances and deaths, Mustapha nevertheless listed the brand new journey guides, with particular reference to India, Brazil and Turkey.
He mentioned, “Any person who has visited Brazil, India or Turkey within fourteen (14) days preceding travel to Nigeria, shall be denied entry into Nigeria. This regulation, however, does not apply to passengers who transited through these countries.
The following measures shall apply to airlines and passengers who fail to comply with I and II(a) above: Airlines shall mandatorily pay a penalty of $3,500 (Three Thousand Five Hundred dollars) for each defaulting passenger. Non-Nigerians will be denied entry and returned to the country of embarkation at the cost to the Airline.
Nigerians and those with the permanent resident permit shall undergo seven (7) days of mandatory quarantine in a Government approved facility at the point-of-entry city and at a cost to the passenger. The following condition shall apply to such passengers:
Within 24 hours of arrival shall take a COVID-19 PCR test.
“If positive, the passenger shall be admitted within a government-approved treatment centre, in line with National treatment protocols. If negative, the Passenger shall continue to remain in quarantine and made to undergo a repeat PCR test on day 7 of their quarantine.
Passenger(s) arriving in Nigeria from other destinations must observe a 7-day self-isolation at their final destination; Carry out a COVID-19 PCR test on day 7 at the selected laboratory; Shall be monitored for compliance to isolation protocol by appropriate authorities.”
On false declaration, the federal authorities mentioned, “Passenger(s) who provided false or misleading contact information will be liable to prosecution. Person(s) who willfully disregard or refuse to comply with directions of Port-Health staff, security agencies or evade quarantine shall be prosecuted in accordance with the law.
State Governments are required to ensure that all returning travellers from ALL countries are monitored to ensure adherence to the mandatory seven-day self-isolation period and the repeat COVID-19 PCR test on the seventh day after arrival.”
Bottom Line
These measures being launched by the Federal Government are geared in direction of containing the unfold of the coronavirus illness throughout the nation, particularly right now when there is a rise within the variety of instances within the nations talked about particularly India, which has witnessed a big enhance in COVID-19 instances in latest instances.
