COVID-19: Ban on passengers from Brazil, India, Turkey begins Tuesday

The Federal Government has announced that foreigners who recently visited Brazil, India and Turkey will be denied entry into Nigeria from Tuesday.

Chairman of the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha, said the decision was as a result of global surge in COVID-19 cases.

Mustapha, who is also Secretary to the Government of the Federation, stated this in a travel advisory issued on Saturday.

There has been a surge of COVID-19 cases in some countries, with India reporting more than 300,000 daily cases for more than 10 days.

Mustapha said Nigerians who visited those countries would undergo one-week mandatory quarantine on arrival and bear the cost.

He added that the FG had reduced the validity period of pre-boarding COVID-19 PCR test for all Nigeria-bound passengers from 96 to 72 hours.

The SGF said, “The Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 has over the last few weeks been monitoring with concern, the increasing trend of COVID-19 cases in several countries, with additional focus on countries with high incidence, fatality rate and widespread prevalence of variants of concern.

“This interim travel advisory applies to three (3) countries in the first instance. These precautionary measures are a necessary step to minimize the risk of a surge in COVID-19 cases introduced to Nigeria from other countries, while national response activities continue.

“The Presidential Steering Committee 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 PCR test for all Nigeria-bound passengers from 96hrs to 72 hours. Henceforth, the PCR test results older than 72 hours before departure shall not be accepted.

“Non-Nigerian passport holders and non-residents who 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.

“Nigerians and those with permanent resident permit who visited Brazil, India or Turkey within Fourteen (14) days preceding travel to Nigeria shall be made to undergo seven (7) days of mandatory quarantine in a government approved facility at the point-of-entry city and at cost to the passenger.

“Passenger(s) arriving in Nigeria from other destinations must observe a seven-day self-isolation at their final destination.”