- China, Italy, Iran, South Korea lead pack
- Ban effective March 21, 2020
BY EDMOND ODOK, ABUJA – The Federal Government on Wednesday finally succumbed to mounting domestic pressure by restricting entry into the country for travellers from 13 countries globally identified as high risk areas with the corona virus pandemic.
This is as the government also announced that it has temporarily suspended the issuance of all visas on arrival policy.
The ban, which takes effect from Saturday, March 21, 2020, will last for four (4) weeks and is subject to review
The affected countries include; China, Italy, Iran, South Korea, Spain, Japan, France, Germany and Norway.
Others are the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Netherlands and Switzerland.
According to the Presidential Task Force on COVlD-19, these are all countries that have recorded over 1,000 cases domestically.
Consequently, the Task Force said “all persons arriving in Nigeria who might have visited these countries, 15 days prior to such arrival, will be subjected to supervised self-isolation and testing for 14 days”
Similarly, Nigerians have been counseled to cancel or postpone all non-essential travels to the countries on the restriction travels’ list
Below is the full text of Federal Government statement on the travel ban
STATEMENT BY THE CHAIRMAN PRESIDENTIAL TASK FORCE PTF ON COVlD-19 0N MEASURES BEING TAKEN BY NIGERIA TO CONTAIN AND MANAGE THE PANDEMIC
Gentlemen of the Press,
You will recall that yesterday Tuesday 17‘h March, 2020 the Presidential Task Force on COVlD-19 set up by Mr. President was inaugurated and held its first briefing.
2. You will also recall that the PTF at the end of the meeting announced the ban on all forms of travels by public officers and civil servants until further notice,
3. This morning, we have found it necessary to brief Nigerians on further measures being taken after an assessment of the global situation. They are as follows:
i. The Federal Government of Nigeria is restricting entry into the country for travellers from the following thirteen (13) countries; China, Italy, Iran, South Korea, Spain, Japan, France, Germany, Norway, the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Netherlands and Switzerland. These are all countries with over 1,000 case domestically;
ii. All persons arriving in Nigeria who might have visited these countries, 0fteen days prior to such arrival, will be subjected to supervised self-isolation and testing for 14 days;
iii. The Federal Government is temporarily suspending the issuance of all visas on arrival;
iv. The Federal Government is also counseling all Nigerians to cancel or postpone all non-essential travels to these countries; and
v. The Federal Government urges Public Health Authorities of countries with high burden to conduct diligent departure screening of passengers and also endorses this travel advisories to their nationals to postpone travels to Nigeria.
4. These restrictions will come into effect from Saturday, 21st March, 2020 for four (4) weeks subject to review
