The Presidential Steering Committee (PSC) on the COVID-19 pandemic has added South Africa to the list of countries from where travellers are restricted on account of the increasing cases of COVID-19 in the country.
The government had last month slammed a similar ban on travellers from India, Brazil and Turkey over similar concerns.
The chairman of PSC and Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Boss Mustapha, disclosed this during Monday media briefing of the committee in Abuja.
He explained: “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 the importation of the such virulent strain.
“The PSC has been reviewing these restrictions and is of the opinion that they should remain for another four weeks before it is further reviewed. South Africa, has, however, been added to this category once more.
“In addition to these three countries, the PSC has also shifted its focus on some African countries. South Africa, Zambia, Rwanda, Namibia and Uganda fall in this category.
“South Africa for example, recorded over 100, 000 cases in the last one week while 20,000 was 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.”
The SGF said over the last few weeks, the PSC has been monitoring global developments on COVID-19 with a particular focus on variants of concern.
While noting that the PSC has escalated surveillance and risk communication, he added that it has similarly paid close attention to the issue of vaccination, especially matters relating to access and acquisition of vaccines.
Mustapha encouraged members of the public not to lower their guards yet because of continued spikes in some countries (including African countries) and the emergence of variants of concern in several jurisdictions where the third wave has occurred.
He decried the inability to source more vaccines for Nigerians, especially since the second jab of AstraZeneca dose commenced.
He said though the vaccination programme has progressed into the second phase for those who took the first jab,the sources and access to vaccines constitute major challenges given the developments in India, the attendant scarcity and the rise of vaccines nationalism.
He assured that the Presidential Steering Committee PSC through the NPHCDA will continue to intensify efforts to acquire vaccines for the next phase.
He maintained insisted that employees on GL 12 and below who have been observing work-from-home instructions would continue the practice until further notice in order to avert a third wave.
He recalled that following the violation of protocols by some inbound passengers to Nigeria, travel documents were barred for a period of 6 months.
He said several appeals have come the way of PSC from those affected while we counselled on the importance of compliance with rules and regulations.
“The six-month period of ban for the first batch of 100 is almost complete and we use this opportunity to reassure Nigerians that sanctions will be imposed on violators of measures put in place to protect them and safeguard our nation, “he stated.
