Citizens or foreigners coming into Nigeria will henceforth leave their passports with the Nigeria Immigration Service for two weeks, till their health status is verified.
In a circular dated June 10, 2020 and addressed to all diplomatic, consular and international organisations accredited to Nigeria, it was gathered that only those with diplomatic passport are exempted from the new directives.
The circular with reference number BW/20/CIR.LET/III/2020 reads:
“Persons who have arrived in Nigeria are advised to self-isolate for 14 days and to remain in the city/state where the point of entry is located (i.e Lagos or Abuja) throughout the duration of self-quarantine.
“If not resident in Lagos, passengers shall make arrangements for accommodation at their own cost. Please note that the Federal Government will not be responsible for providing accommodation or transportation to the place of abode.
“Passengers will be cleared through the Nigeria Immigration Service System’s Migrant Identification and Data Analysis System and their passports retained until after successful completion of 14 days self-quarantine except diplomatic passport holders.”
Those whose samples test negative and are unable to stay in Lagos and Abuja, will be allowed to return to their state of residence after providing their details.
A new aviation protocol has also been issued to passengers including Nigerians coming into the country.
It reads in part:
-They must test negative for COVID19 before they depart their respective countries to Nigeria.
-The test must be done two weeks before departure to Nigeria.
-They must self isolate for 14 days once they arrive Nigeria
-A repeat COVID19 test will be carried out on them 72 hours after arriving Nigeria
The circular:
This order is too draconian and restrictive. It’s also financially wasteful, especially on the hapless migrants. All the time one may have to shuttle Nigeria may not even be up to a fortnight. How do you fulfill your mission to Nigeria, business or otherwise when this restricted?
Nigeria should be satisfied with report brought from country of departure after a temperature check and obtainance of location address within Nigeria.
Why exempt diplomatic passport holders? Does COVID-19 infection so discriminate?
If someone tests false positive from erroneous tests readings, how do they rectify this problem? There was a lady from London who was incorrectly recorded as tested positive of the COVID-19. She then hired private tester who confirmed that she tested negative and did not have the virus. But she was nonetheless forced into quarantine in Abuja for horrible 14 days. And even at the end of the 14 days, Nigerian officials refused to release this lady and her passport was missing. So how do they spare travelling public of this avoidable nightmare? The best way is for people to get tested from departure countries prior to travelling, on arrival in Nigeria folks show their test papers and go through temperature checks. Those within threshold will be allowed to leave and those above normal will be required to be tested for the virus and possible quarantine. This indiscriminate and draconian quarantine of arriving air passengers could cost travelers millions if not billions of dollars, accomplishes nothing and lead to costly class action lawsuits.
This is impossible until Nigerians can be relied upon. There is no accountability! What if after two weeks the passports get missing, who do you hold accountable! Please think of alternative arrangement for checking against COVID-19 transmission..