The Federal Government on Thursday rolled out new measures for international travellers from the United Kingdom (UK) and South Africa.
This is in a bid to curb the spread of the new coronavirus variant in Nigeria,
The government also announced that it will publish the passport numbers of passengers who have either failed to present themselves for tests after seven days of arrival in the country or presented fake Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test results.
The national coordinator of the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19 containment, Sani Aliyu, said with effect from 00hours on Monday, the 28th December, 2020, such travellers must carry out test of five days validity before they can travel
The PTF said it has noticed a 100 percent increase in the number of international travellers who tested positive this week, adding that less than 50 percent of those who arrived the country show up for tests on the 7th day.
“If you fail to present yourself for tests 10 days after arriving the country, government will enforce suspension from travelling for six months, and revocation of visa for non- Nigerian travellers,” Aliyu said.
He said the 100 passport numbers of those who presented fake PCR results and fake addresses will be published any moment.
The government said a Nigeria travel portal has been opened and advised travellers to fill out the form to obtain permit to travel and also obtain negative Covid-19 PCR results.
“Effective from 001 hrs, Monday the 28 of December January, all passengers coming into the country from the UK and South Africa on direct flight must use the Nigerian international travel portal to register, fill in their health questionnaire. They must upload a negative Covid-19 PRC result with a validity of not more than five days and they must pay for the test on day 7 of arrival in the country.
“If you are leaving UK or South Africa you need two documents that you have to present to airlines. The first is negative Covid-19 PRC result, the second one is permit to travel document. We will open register for passengers coming from these two countries,” he said.
Aliyu urged international travellers to use the Nigeria portals for the permits to travel and also warned against purchasing or using fake PCR results, as well as providing fake and non-existing addresses, as government will eventually locate and sanction such defaulters through their international passports.
He warned that passengers travelling to those countries will not be allowed to board without a permit to travel.
He also announced that they will be expected to pay for the test on arrival in Nigeria, engage in the compulsory seven-day self-quarantine, and report back for the testing at the end of the 7th day.
He noted that government has made provisions for surveillance register that will monitor to see if they have health issues and ensure compulsory test on the 7th day.
Other measures include the enforcement of the 12am to 4am curfew and discouraging non-essential travels.
Aliyu said those above 60 should restrict movement, and urged security agencies to enforce the non-pharmaceutical interventions.
He called for decongestion of offices, encouraged staff to work from home, adding that mobile courts have already been established to enforce mandatory use of face masks
He urged the state governors to carry out spot checks on commercial premises, stop all mass gatherings of more than 50 persons to stop, and schools to delay re-openings until January 18th.
Ahead of the Christmas gatherings and other religious activities, the government said such gatherings must be restricted to less than 50, otherwise it must be held outdoors.
The PTF therefore appealed to religious leaders to cooperate with the government to reduce further spread of the coronavirus.
