The Federal Government has extended the ban on travellers from Brazil, India and Turkey by one month following the rising cases of COVID-19 in those countries.

Boss Mustapha PHOTO: Twitter
The Federal Government has extended the ban on travellers from Brazil, India and Turkey by one month following the rising cases of COVID-19 in those countries.Chairman of the Presidential Steering Committee (PSC) on COVID-19 and Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, who made the disclosure yesterday in Abuja, asserted that the panel had been reviewing the restrictions and was of the opinion that they should remain for another four weeks, adding that South Africa had been included in the list.
Mustapha said the PSC has also shifted its focus to other African nations, including Zambia, Rwanda, Namibia and Uganda. According to him, South Africa, for example, recorded over 100,000 cases in the last one week, while 20,000 cases were recorded in the last 24 hours. The four major variants of concern are now classified as Alpha (UK); Beta (SA); Gamma (Brazil) and Delta (India). The Delta variant, which has wreaked devastating havoc, is not yet found in Nigeria, hence the need to tighten our borders and be more vigilant.
He continued: A few weeks ago, we announced additional measures to be met by passengers arriving from Brazil, Turkey and India. This action was due to the prevalence of variants of concern and the dangers associated with importation of the virulent strain.The PSC has been reviewing these restrictions and is of the opinion that they should remain for another four weeks (one month) before it is further reviewed. South Africa, has however, been added to this category once more.
Mustapha, who stated that his body has been monitoring global developments on COVID-19 with particular focus on concerned variants, stated that government had escalated surveillance and risk communications.
He added that the PSC has similarly paid close attention to vaccination, especially matters relating to access and acquisition of vaccines.
The PSC wishes to encourage members of the public not to lower their guard yet because we continue to see spike in some countries (including African countries) and the emergence of variants of concern in several jurisdictions where the third wave has occurred, the SGF added.
On the Emirate flight crisis, Mustapha said the relevant ministries were reviewing developments and would come up with a decision in due course.
In all circumstances, however, conditions placed on such flights must conform with international civil aviation standards and must not be discriminatory and must respect our sovereignty, he added.