Abiola Olawale
The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced fresh travel restrictions on passengers entering the country from Turkey, Brazil and India.
According to the Presidential Steering Committee (PSC) on COVID-19, the fresh measures were aimed at preventing the importation of the COVID-19 virus ravaging the world.
Brazil, Turkey and India has been experiencing a surge in the number of COVID-19 cases and fatalities in recent weeks.
According to World Data on COVID-19, India has recorded 19.56 million cases of COVID-19 as of Saturday, with 401,993 reported cases of COVID-19 on Saturday alone.
India has been recording more than 300,000 cases of COVID-19 per day in the last ten days.
Turkey, on its part has recorded a total of 4.88million cases of COVID-19 with 40,844 fatalities recorded as at press time.
Brazil has recorded 14.7million cases of COVID-19 with 406,565 deaths.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and Chairman, PSC, Mr Boss Mustapha, said in a press release dated May 1, 2021, that the new measures included a ban on entry of non-Nigerian passengers who had travelled to the three countries in the last 14 days.
According to the press release, the validity period of the pre-boarding COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test for all Nigeria-bound passengers has been reduced from 96hrs to 72 hours.
Also, the Non-Nigerian passport holders and non-residents who had visited Brazil, India or Turkey 14 days before travelling to Nigeria, have been barred from entering Nigeria. However, the restriction does not apply to passengers who merely transited through these countries.
Nigerian residents and those with permanent resident permit who had visited Brazil, India and Turkey in the last 14 days are now mandated to undergo seven days of mandatory quarantine in a Government-approved facility at the point-of-entry city and at cost to the passenger.
The statement partly reads, “Nigerians are strongly advised to avoid any non-essential international travels to any country at this period and specifically to countries that are showing rising number of cases and deaths.
“The PSC on COVID-19, after due consideration, has therefore approved the implementation of the following measures: Reduction of the validity period of pre-boarding COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test for all Nigeria-bound passengers from 96hrs to 72 hours. Henceforth PCR test results older than 72hours before departure shall not be accepted.
“Guidelines Specific to Brazil, India and Turkey:
“Non-Nigerian passport holders and non-residents who visited Brazil, India or Turkey within 14 days preceding travel to Nigeria, shall be denied entry into Nigeria. This regulation, however, do 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 pay a mandatory penalty of 3,500 dollars for each defaulting passenger.
“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 who visited Brazil, India or Turkey within 14 days, preceding travel to Nigeria shall be made to 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:
“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 selected laboratory.
“Shall be monitored for compliance to isolation protocol by appropriate authorities.
“False declaration: Passenger(s) who provide 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.”
“This travel advisory shall come into effect from May 4, while adding that the guidelines provided in this document shall be subject to review after an initial period of four weeks.”
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) on Saturday recorded 43 new COVID-19 infections in seven states across the country.
The new figures raised the total number of COVID-19 cases country to 165,153, as at press time.
