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Oluwasina Phillip
The Federal Government has reiterated its travel ban on non-Nigerian passport holders and non-residents who visited Brazil, India, Turkey and South Africa within 14 days preceding their time of travel to Nigeria.
It stated that such travellers would be denied entry into the country.
The Chairman, Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha, disclosed this in a statement.
According to the statement, this regulation, does not apply to passengers who transited through these countries.
He said, “Non-Nigerian passport holders and non-residents who visited Brazil, India, Turkey or South Africa within 14 days preceding travel to Nigeria, shall be denied entry into Nigeria.
“Nigerians and those with permanent resident permits who visited Brazil, India, Turkey and South Africa 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 conditions 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; and if negative, the passenger shall continue to remain in quarantine and made to undergo a repeat PCR test on Day-7 of their quarantine.”
According to him, airlines who fail to comply with the directives will be made to pay a penalty of $3,500 for each defaulting passenger, and airlines who consistently failed to comply with the requirements may be banned from coming to Nigeria.
He added that passengers arriving with fake COVID-19 PCR results would be referred for prosecution.
He said, “Airlines have been directed not to board passengers with non-PCR COVID-19 tests such as antigen/or antibody tests, a positive COVID-19 PCR test result or tests performed beyond 72 hours of boarding.
“Passengers who are Nigerians or holders of permanent resident permit will be allowed entry, but subjected to the procedure outlined in Section D.
“False declaration: Passenger(s) who provided false or misleading contact information will be liable to prosecution; and 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.
“This protocol comes into effect from July 2, 2021.”
