The National Coordinator of Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Sani Aliyu, has disclosed that over 27,000 passengers from abroad came to Nigeria during the COVID-19 pandemic despite the strict procedures when the Lagos and Abuja airports were opened
Aliyu stated this during a Town Hall webinar meeting organised by Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, NIDCOM, and coordinated by its Chairman/CEO, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa for Nigerians coming into the country during the COVID-19 pandemic.
He said that of the 27,000 passengers, 18,000 of them came in through Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, while the remaining 9,000 came in through Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja.
He explained that the Task Force came up with what people considered as stringent procedures because it was imperative to limit the importation of Covid-19 to Nigeria, prevent transmission during the flight and reduce the quarantine period.
He told Nigerians in the diaspora, who participated at the Webinar, that public laboratories are not allowed to conduct free testing as the Federal Government cannot afford it and it is not sustainable.
He explained that the Federal Government does not receive any money paid to private laboratories as it would have loved to subsidize, but it is not sustainable by the government.
He also advised those travelling out of Nigeria to enquire from the country they are travelling to if the Covid-19 test is a requirement for entry.
Speaking on the high cost of having the test, Aliyu said the Federal Government is trying to push the cost of PCR down for private laboratories who will in turn work within the travel sector line.
The National Coordinator said that children below the age of 10 years do not need to do tests and ” if they have been subjected to payment, then they will be refunded.”
On the testing process for international travellers staying outside Lagos or Abuja, Aliyu said that “If there is no private laboratory in your state of final destination, the laboratory you have chosen for your test during registration will make arrangements to have your sample taken at a designated laboratory adding that the PTF and Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, are urgently working with all states to create a mechanism for private testing and have already approached six or seven states that have private labs in their states.
Aliyu disclosed that a list of accredited private laboratories, especially if one is traveling out of the country, is on the NCDC microsite covid19.ncdc.gov.ng/privatelabs.
He urged all passengers travelling to Nigeria to update all required information on the Nigerian international travel portal before boarding. This will auto-generate a QR code which is required on arrival.
Aliyu also said any passenger made to pay more than once must be refunded, adding that customer service teams have been stationed at the airports.
