Why We Have Strict Travel Protocols In Nigeria — FG

The Federal Government says its strict travel protocols are put
in place to protect its citizens from being infected by COVID-19
pandemic.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed,
made this known while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria
(NAN) in Abuja on Wednesday.

Mohammed said Nigeria had been tagged as a very strict country
in terms of travel protocols, explaining that the stand of the
government was to protect its people against the spread of the
virus.

“We have been accused that our rules are being stringent. We say
no. We are not being tough for toughness’ sake. We are being tough
because that is what science demands. We are tough because we want
to protect our people.

“This is why you will see that the Presidential Steering
Committee (PSC) has designated and ranked different parts of the
globe where the Delta variant is prevalent or the very high risk of
contracting COVID-19.

“We have labeled them restricted countries. As of today, we have
only four of such; South Africa, India, Brazil, and Turkey. And
there are strict travel protocols around these countries because we
want to prevent and protect our people.

“The first instance, nationals of these countries are not
allowed into Nigeria. If you are a Brazilian and you are coming
from Brazil and Indian coming from India, a South African coming
from South Africa or Turkish coming from Turkey.

“It doesn’t mean a Brazilian living in London cannot come, you
can come if you are coming from London. And also, not everybody
coming from these countries is banned, we make exemptions;
diplomats are exempted, high-level government officials, those
coming to fix our infrastructure and economy are exempted by
PSC.

“But no matter what category whether a Nigerian coming from
Turkey or you are exempted for whatever you are coming to do in
Nigeria but you must observe the travel protocols which means you
check in straight into a quarantined facility approved by the
Federal Government.

“And when you are there, your health is monitored constantly,
day two of your arrival, you will do a COVID-19 test, do another
one day seven, it is only after you are tested negative at day
seven that you are allowed to go home and meet your relations.

“However those who are coming from non-restricted countries,
also have their own protocols to observe, one, they must
self-isolate in their respective homes, and two, day seven, they
must come out and do a test before they are being discharged,” he
explained.

The minister said regrettably, many people who came in from
non-restricted countries did not observe self-isolation, and even
when they did they thought it was an occasion to invite friends and
relations.

“It is a dangerous practice. Those doing that are endangering
their lives, the lives of their friends and relations.

“If you have taken the two doses of your AstraZeneca or new
Moderna, they will not prevent you from catching COVID-19 again,
the only advantage you have, if you catch it after you took the
vaccine, you won’t be terribly sick, you may not even notice it,
you won’t be hospitalised and you will not die of COVID-19.

“If someone comes in from a country like India for instance even
if he is vaccinated and he meets a Nigerian who has been
vaccinated, that Nigerian can still catch it because you need to
have vaccinated at least 70 per cent of your population.

“It is when you have vaccinated 70 per cent of your population
before you can achieve what they call herd immunity. Here we are
still struggling with two per cent vaccination.

“So that is why we put what looks like tough travel protocols
around most restricted and non-restricted countries.”

Mohammed, however, noted that this list was not final and any
country Nigeria noticed that COVID-19 or delta variant was becoming
endemic such country would be added to the list because it was all
about safety of lives of the citizens. (NAN)

The Federal Government says its strict travel protocols are put
in place to protect its citizens from being infected by COVID-19
pandemic.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed,
made this known while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria
(NAN) in Abuja on Wednesday.

Mohammed said Nigeria had been tagged as a very strict country
in terms of travel protocols, explaining that the stand of the
government was to protect its people against the spread of the
virus.

“We have been accused that our rules are being stringent. We say
no. We are not being tough for toughness’ sake. We are being tough
because that is what science demands. We are tough because we want
to protect our people.

“This is why you will see that the Presidential Steering
Committee (PSC) has designated and ranked different parts of the
globe where the Delta variant is prevalent or the very high risk of
contracting COVID-19.

“We have labeled them restricted countries. As of today, we have
only four of such; South Africa, India, Brazil, and Turkey. And
there are strict travel protocols around these countries because we
want to prevent and protect our people.

“The first instance, nationals of these countries are not
allowed into Nigeria. If you are a Brazilian and you are coming
from Brazil and Indian coming from India, a South African coming
from South Africa or Turkish coming from Turkey.

“It doesn’t mean a Brazilian living in London cannot come, you
can come if you are coming from London. And also, not everybody
coming from these countries is banned, we make exemptions;
diplomats are exempted, high-level government officials, those
coming to fix our infrastructure and economy are exempted by
PSC.

“But no matter what category whether a Nigerian coming from
Turkey or you are exempted for whatever you are coming to do in
Nigeria but you must observe the travel protocols which means you
check in straight into a quarantined facility approved by the
Federal Government.

“And when you are there, your health is monitored constantly,
day two of your arrival, you will do a COVID-19 test, do another
one day seven, it is only after you are tested negative at day
seven that you are allowed to go home and meet your relations.

“However those who are coming from non-restricted countries,
also have their own protocols to observe, one, they must
self-isolate in their respective homes, and two, day seven, they
must come out and do a test before they are being discharged,” he
explained.

The minister said regrettably, many people who came in from
non-restricted countries did not observe self-isolation, and even
when they did they thought it was an occasion to invite friends and
relations.

“It is a dangerous practice. Those doing that are endangering
their lives, the lives of their friends and relations.

“If you have taken the two doses of your AstraZeneca or new
Moderna, they will not prevent you from catching COVID-19 again,
the only advantage you have, if you catch it after you took the
vaccine, you won’t be terribly sick, you may not even notice it,
you won’t be hospitalised and you will not die of COVID-19.

“If someone comes in from a country like India for instance even
if he is vaccinated and he meets a Nigerian who has been
vaccinated, that Nigerian can still catch it because you need to
have vaccinated at least 70 per cent of your population.

“It is when you have vaccinated 70 per cent of your population
before you can achieve what they call herd immunity. Here we are
still struggling with two per cent vaccination.

“So that is why we put what looks like tough travel protocols
around most restricted and non-restricted countries.”

Mohammed, however, noted that this list was not final and any
country Nigeria noticed that COVID-19 or delta variant was becoming
endemic such country would be added to the list because it was all
about safety of lives of the citizens. (NAN)