COVID-19: FG Issues Travel Advisory To Nigerians

The Federal Government has issued a travel advisory to Nigerians
to Brazil, India, Turkey, citing risks from COVID-19.

Mr Boss Mustapha, Chairman of the Presidential Steering
Committee (PSC) on COVID-19, gave the advice during a Town Hall
Meeting on COVID-19 vaccination for the North East Zone in
Yola.

The meeting was organised by the PSC in collaboration with
National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA).

Mustapha, who was represented by Alhaji Abubakar Mohammed,
Minister of Environment, said Nigeria has the responsibility to
safeguard the health of its people and block any chance to spread
the COVID-19 in the country.

“Nigerians are strongly advised to avoid nonessential
international travelling at this time especially to countries that
are showing an increase in a number of COVID-19 deaths.

“Consequently, any person who had visited Brazil, India and
Turkey within 14 days preceding travel to Nigeria shall be denied
entry into Nigeria.

“Among other travelling guidelines, individuals, transporters
and airlines who abuse the guidelines shall be sanction,’’ Mustapha
said.

He explained that the PSC has been monitoring with keen interest
the rise in cases of COVID-19 abroad.

”The Federal Government deeply sympathises with the government
and citizens of those countries and assured them of unflinching
support and solidarity.

”All Governors are also advised to ensure that all returned
international passengers in their respective states adhere strictly
to the mandatory seven days isolation period,” he said.

The PSC chairman said that the cardinal objective of the meeting
was to provide means for the government, communities and other
relevant stakeholders to discuss about the ongoing COVID-19
vaccination in the country.

The SGF noted that records available showed that the daily
incident of COVID-19 in the country has reduced.

Also speaking, Dr Osagie Ehanire, Minister of Health, said the
COVID-19 pandemic has proven to be the greatest health threat to
the present generation.

Ehanire disclosed that the impact of COVID-19 on the country’s
health, economic and social services have been so overarching, that
it calls for all hands to be on the deck to focus on solutions to
the disease.

“This meeting today is the second in the series of town hall
interactions across the country to afford the opportunity to rub
minds with elders and arrive at a messaging strategy for citizen
engagement in ongoing vaccination to protect Nigerians against
COVID-19 pandemic.

“Since Nigeria recorded its first COVID-19 case in February
2020, the Federal Government has put measures in place to protect
lives and mitigate the devastating effect of community
transmission,’’ Ehanire said.

He disclosed that Nigeria has lost over 2, 000 lives and it’s
GDP has fallen by 23 per cent due to the slowdown of global
economic activity as a result of COVID-19.

Also speaking, Dr Faisal Shuaibu, Executive Director, NPHCDA
said that the town hall was organised to share mutual concerns,
reach a consensus and take responsibilities in ongoing efforts to
protect the citizens against the pandemic.

“This Town Hall meeting is in line with the principles of
pro-active community engagement, transparency and accountability of
the PSC, under the able leadership of Mr.Boss Mustapha, the
Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

“Our gathering here today is anchored on our core principles and
conviction that it is not enough to offer vaccines to
Nigerians.

“But that we must also empower the people with the correct
information required for them to make informed decisions about
getting vaccinated against COVID-19,’’ Shuaibu said.

Shuaibu said Nigeria received a shipment of nearly four million
doses of the Oxford/Astrazeneca COVID-19 vaccine.

He said the agency across the country had provided the first
COVID-19 vaccine doses to 1,966,548 Nigerians, which represent
about 98 per cent of those targeted in the first wave of the
vaccination exercise.

“We have begun providing second doses. Those individuals
currently eligible for second doses will have received their first
dose six to 12 weeks prior,’’ Shuaibu said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the participants
include top government officials from the federal and six states of
the zone.

Others who attended the meeting are members of the State
Assemblies from the zone, Traditional and Religious leaders among
others. (NAN)

The Federal Government has issued a travel advisory to Nigerians
to Brazil, India, Turkey, citing risks from COVID-19.

Mr Boss Mustapha, Chairman of the Presidential Steering
Committee (PSC) on COVID-19, gave the advice during a Town Hall
Meeting on COVID-19 vaccination for the North East Zone in
Yola.

The meeting was organised by the PSC in collaboration with
National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA).

Mustapha, who was represented by Alhaji Abubakar Mohammed,
Minister of Environment, said Nigeria has the responsibility to
safeguard the health of its people and block any chance to spread
the COVID-19 in the country.

“Nigerians are strongly advised to avoid nonessential
international travelling at this time especially to countries that
are showing an increase in a number of COVID-19 deaths.

“Consequently, any person who had visited Brazil, India and
Turkey within 14 days preceding travel to Nigeria shall be denied
entry into Nigeria.

“Among other travelling guidelines, individuals, transporters
and airlines who abuse the guidelines shall be sanction,’’ Mustapha
said.

He explained that the PSC has been monitoring with keen interest
the rise in cases of COVID-19 abroad.

”The Federal Government deeply sympathises with the government
and citizens of those countries and assured them of unflinching
support and solidarity.

”All Governors are also advised to ensure that all returned
international passengers in their respective states adhere strictly
to the mandatory seven days isolation period,” he said.

The PSC chairman said that the cardinal objective of the meeting
was to provide means for the government, communities and other
relevant stakeholders to discuss about the ongoing COVID-19
vaccination in the country.

The SGF noted that records available showed that the daily
incident of COVID-19 in the country has reduced.

Also speaking, Dr Osagie Ehanire, Minister of Health, said the
COVID-19 pandemic has proven to be the greatest health threat to
the present generation.

Ehanire disclosed that the impact of COVID-19 on the country’s
health, economic and social services have been so overarching, that
it calls for all hands to be on the deck to focus on solutions to
the disease.

“This meeting today is the second in the series of town hall
interactions across the country to afford the opportunity to rub
minds with elders and arrive at a messaging strategy for citizen
engagement in ongoing vaccination to protect Nigerians against
COVID-19 pandemic.

“Since Nigeria recorded its first COVID-19 case in February
2020, the Federal Government has put measures in place to protect
lives and mitigate the devastating effect of community
transmission,’’ Ehanire said.

He disclosed that Nigeria has lost over 2, 000 lives and it’s
GDP has fallen by 23 per cent due to the slowdown of global
economic activity as a result of COVID-19.

Also speaking, Dr Faisal Shuaibu, Executive Director, NPHCDA
said that the town hall was organised to share mutual concerns,
reach a consensus and take responsibilities in ongoing efforts to
protect the citizens against the pandemic.

“This Town Hall meeting is in line with the principles of
pro-active community engagement, transparency and accountability of
the PSC, under the able leadership of Mr.Boss Mustapha, the
Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

“Our gathering here today is anchored on our core principles and
conviction that it is not enough to offer vaccines to
Nigerians.

“But that we must also empower the people with the correct
information required for them to make informed decisions about
getting vaccinated against COVID-19,’’ Shuaibu said.

Shuaibu said Nigeria received a shipment of nearly four million
doses of the Oxford/Astrazeneca COVID-19 vaccine.

He said the agency across the country had provided the first
COVID-19 vaccine doses to 1,966,548 Nigerians, which represent
about 98 per cent of those targeted in the first wave of the
vaccination exercise.

“We have begun providing second doses. Those individuals
currently eligible for second doses will have received their first
dose six to 12 weeks prior,’’ Shuaibu said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the participants
include top government officials from the federal and six states of
the zone.

Others who attended the meeting are members of the State
Assemblies from the zone, Traditional and Religious leaders among
others. (NAN)