The Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 says it is working effortlessly with the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) to impose sanctions on inbound travellers who fail to take post-arrival COVID-19 test.
Speaking at the task force’s briefing on Monday, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, said that a “good percentage” of in-bound travellers have breached travel protocols thereby causing surveillance and testing setbacks.
Mustapha, who is also the PTF Chairman, said a total of at least 20,216 travellers had shunned the post-arrival test out of the total of 64,405 due for testing.
“You will also recall that the PTF established the Nigeria International Travel Portal for the control of possible importation of the virus. Statistics show that a good percentage of in-bound travellers have breached the travel protocols thereby making surveillance and testing suffer undue setbacks. The following statistics will be of interest,”he said.
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“As at date, 163,818 inbound travellers have been captured on the portal; Out of this number, 77,025 (47%) made payment for post arrival testing; 64,405 (84%) of the number are due for post-arrival test;
“Out of 64,405 that were due for post-arrival test, 44,189 representing (69%) of those tested; and 20,216 (31%) have not shown up for post-arrival test thereby endangering members of the community and breaching the protocols they signed up to.
“The PTF has concluded arrangements with the Nigeria Immigration Service to impose sanctions on these defaulters for breaching the public health protocols, within ambit of the law.”
The PTF chairman also disclosed that the task force would submit its end of year (2020) report to President Muhammadu Buhari today, Tuesday.
“Tomorrow, Tuesday 22nd December, 2020 at 3.00pm, the PTF shall be submitting its end of year (2020) Report to Mr. President and Nigerians shall be kept abreast of developments in this regard,” he added.
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