Nigerian Presidential Taskforce on COVID-19 has said it is working with relevant institutions and legal authorities in the country to impose appropriate sanctions on 39,070 passengers who defaulted on the coronavirus test on arrival in the country.
According to signaturetv.org, the Chairman of the PTF, Boss Mustapha, who indicated this at the PTF press conference in Abuja, also disclosed that some travelers presented fake documents on COVID-19 tests and other information.
Pre- and post-arrival tests are two of the protocols for travelers using the country’s airports and the tests are paid for by travelers, who cannot be tested unless they make the payments.
But on Monday, Mustapha said some of those who paid for the post-arrival test had failed to show up for the tests.
Mustapha, who is also the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, said the PTF had been evaluating the compliance of Nigerians with the protocols for testing by in-bound and out-bound travelers.
“It has been discovered that some of these travelers have indulged in presenting fake documents. Some that have paid for post-arrival testing has failed to show up for the tests”, Mustapha said.
He said that statistics showed that as of November 9, the total number of bookings was 91,522; the total number of passengers exempted (diplomats and some others), 5,470 (6%); children, 1,248 (1.36 percent); diplomats, 3,392 (3.7 percent); and evacuees, 830 (0.9 percent).
The SGF also said while the total passengers expected to pay were 86,052 (94 percent), those that paid were 46,982 (54.6 percent) and those that had not paid were 39,070 (45.45 percent).
“Travellers that have arrived in-country but have not paid (approximately 39,000). Amount paid to private labs by passengers who have refused to take the post-arrival seven-day test is between N220m andN270m,” he said.
Mustapha said that the PTF was concluding steps to work with relevant institutions and legal authorities to impose appropriate sanctions on those that defaulted on the protocols.
He said that the various guidelines and the testing regime prescribed for in-bound passengers would remain in force.
The SGF said that the PTF still considered it necessary to caution against non-essential trips.
He said, “Ahead of the upsurge in travels for the Christmas and New Year festivities, we urge strongly that for this year, such trips should be put on hold firmly because of the risks involved.
“The transmission rate has simply become astronomical. The PTF similarly finds it necessary to mention that during the Christmas and New Year festivities, large social gatherings should also be avoided because there is a bigger risk of COVID-19 transmission.
“New clusters of cases can emerge in places that have so far been unaffected as people travel and gather for festivities. But we can lower the risks by adhering to the non-pharmaceutical interventions and celebrate, safely. There will always be many more festive seasons to celebrate.”
Mustapha said that the PTF was working with the World Health Organisation and other partners to access vaccines as soon as they are available.
