COVID-19: Immigration Boss Orders Travel Ban Enforcement on 100 Passengers

The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service
(NIS), Muhammad Babandede, has directed NIS formations to enforce
the travel ban imposed on 100 travellers who flouted the mandatory
seven-day post-arrival COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction test.

He said the defaulting passengers had been restricted for six
months, from January 1 to June 30, 2021, in line with the federal
government’s directive.

The CG in a statement yesterday, by the NIS spokesman, Sunday
James, stated that the affected passengers had been notified and
would be prevented from passport re-issuance and travelling outside
the country during the period.

The statement was titled: ‘Temporary travel restrictions on 100
passengers violating COVID-19 quarantine protocols.’

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Chairman
of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha, had
announced the sanction on the travellers in a memo titled: ‘Travel
restriction,’ released by the Federal Ministry of Information and
Culture, on Friday.

According to him, the six months’ travel restriction was based
on “presidential authority.”

The NIS in its statement warned the affected passengers to
comply with the directive to avoid breaching public health
protocols and refusal of departure.

It said: “In line with the federal government’s directives on
temporary travel restrictions on 100 passengers due to
non-compliance with the mandatory seven-day post-arrival COVID-19
PCR test by all in-bound travellers, the Comptroller-General of
Nigeria Immigration Service, Muhammad Babandede, has directed the
relevant formations to ensure immediate compliance with the travel
restriction order.

“The 100 defaulting passengers have been restricted for a period
of six months, from January 1st 2021 to June 30th 2021. All the
affected passengers have been notified and will be prevented from
passport re-issuance and travelling outside the country during this
period.”

The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service
(NIS), Muhammad Babandede, has directed NIS formations to enforce
the travel ban imposed on 100 travellers who flouted the mandatory
seven-day post-arrival COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction test.

He said the defaulting passengers had been restricted for six
months, from January 1 to June 30, 2021, in line with the federal
government’s directive.

The CG in a statement yesterday, by the NIS spokesman, Sunday
James, stated that the affected passengers had been notified and
would be prevented from passport re-issuance and travelling outside
the country during the period.

The statement was titled: ‘Temporary travel restrictions on 100
passengers violating COVID-19 quarantine protocols.’

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Chairman
of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha, had
announced the sanction on the travellers in a memo titled: ‘Travel
restriction,’ released by the Federal Ministry of Information and
Culture, on Friday.

According to him, the six months’ travel restriction was based
on “presidential authority.”

The NIS in its statement warned the affected passengers to
comply with the directive to avoid breaching public health
protocols and refusal of departure.

It said: “In line with the federal government’s directives on
temporary travel restrictions on 100 passengers due to
non-compliance with the mandatory seven-day post-arrival COVID-19
PCR test by all in-bound travellers, the Comptroller-General of
Nigeria Immigration Service, Muhammad Babandede, has directed the
relevant formations to ensure immediate compliance with the travel
restriction order.

“The 100 defaulting passengers have been restricted for a period
of six months, from January 1st 2021 to June 30th 2021. All the
affected passengers have been notified and will be prevented from
passport re-issuance and travelling outside the country during this
period.”