COVID-19: NIS CG orders enforcement of travel ban on defaulting passengers

BY Victoria Ogunrinde

Following the suspension of 100 passengers by the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19, The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Muhammad Babandede, has ordered NIS formations to enforce the travel ban imposed on the default travellers who did not undergo the mandatory seven-day post-arrival COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction test.

He said the defaulting passengers had been restricted for six months, from January 1 to June 30, 2021, in line with the Federal on Government’s directive.

The CG in a statement on Monday, by the NIS spokesman, DCI Sunday James, stated that the affected passengers had been notified and will be prevented from passport re-issuance and travelling outside the country during the period.

The statement was titled ‘Temporary travel restrictions on 100 passengers violating COVID-19 quarantine protocols.’

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha, had announced the sanction on the travellers in a memo titled ‘Travel restriction,’ released by the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, on Friday.

According to him, the six months’ travel restriction was based on “presidential authority,” thus the NIS in its statement warned the affected passengers to comply with the directive to avoid breaching public health protocols and refusal of departure.

It said, “In line with the Federal Government’s directives on temporary travel restrictions on 100 passengers due to non-compliance with the mandatory seven-day post-arrival COVID-19 PCR test by all in-bound travellers, the Comptroller-General of Nigeria Immigration Service, Muhammad Babandede, has directed the relevant formations to ensure immediate compliance with the travel restriction order.

“The 100 defaulting passengers have been restricted for a period of six months, from January 1st 2021 to June 30th 2021. All the affected passengers have been notified and will be prevented from passport re-issuance and travelling outside the country during this period.”