Violate COVID-19 guidelines, go to jail -FG

The Federal Government has said it would not only name and shame violators of the COVID-19 Health Protection Regulations (2021), it would prosecute and jail offenders.
Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 pandemic and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, made the disclosure at yesterday’s briefing.

“We have to get tough on these things because is a matter of public health and the dangers involved…We call on Nigerians and the media to join us in this fight so that we have a paradigm shift, an attitudinal change among our people to do the right thing.”
Aside from additional 100 passports that were to be suspended for the next six months or a longer time, he said offenders would face mobile court and sent to jail.

On the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) banning Gulf carrier Emirates with a 72-hour flight suspension, Mustapha said those presenting fake results were making airlines to doubt the testing process being carried out in the country.
Speaking in the same vein, National Incident Manager of the PTF, Dr Mukhtar Muhammad, warned against violating international travel COVID-19 protocols, saying violators stand the risk of imprisonment.
According to him, besides the fact that violating the travel protocols is a punishable crime in Nigeria, it is also a threat to the family and members of the communities where offenders belong.

He, however, assured that the PTF would continue to monitor the activities of international airlines and laboratories, as well as continue to take actions on travel advisories in order to ensure that the nation is secured against the pandemic.
“As you may all be aware, the PTF through NCAA had sanctioned and suspended an airline for its failure to comply with testing requirements and travel policies.

“While we explore infrastructure for setting up Rapid Antigen Test (RDT), the standard shall continue to be the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test performed 96 hours from the date of departure and a second PCR test on the 7th day after arrival.
“In the meantime, the PTF will continue to monitor compliance by all international airlines and approved laboratories and take necessary action on travel advisories for national interest and greater public safety.

“Last week we received a report of some passengers, who have violated the entry protocol, were reported to have jumped quarantine. The PTF is taking the necessary steps to ensure timely prosecution of these passengers.
“For the benefit of the public, let me reiterate the protocol for passengers arriving without PCR or those who obtained fake PCR results. These passengers will be tested on arrival immediately and taken to a mandatory seven-day quarantine at designated hotels, at the expiry of which their will have a second COVID-19 test using PCR.

“The passengers will be responsible for all their hotel and laboratory bills as well as be liable to prosecution at the COVID-19 tribunal. Jumping Quarantine is a grave offence, which is punishable by imprisonment and PTF will not shirk from prosecuting any violators.
“Nigerians must try to comply to the provisions of our entry protocol, because it is in your own best interest. Remember that if you obtain a fake PCR result and conspire and connived your way through the airport, you will be at a very high risk of taking COVID-19 infection to home to infect your loved ones and the people in your community,” he warned.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Abuja and over N30,000 in Lagos. We are contesting it and the simply reasons the airlines doing this is because of our attitude. They are beginning to doubt the authenticity of our test results because some few Nigerians have decided to be very very deceptive and criminal. Though we don’t have the monopoly of forging, even there they forged documents but why should we do it to ourselves to the extent that right now airlines are now determining for us by introducing a new layer of test. By the time you add up the cost of the additional money we are going to expend on traveling and coming back, it’s over N150,000. Why should that happen? But you see? We are the ones creating that situation.
“So, I will appeal to the media in particular, to be very strong in voicing your resentment of anybody that indulges on those kinds of attitude of bridging of protocols, rules and regulations, indulging in the facilitation of COVID-19 fake results.”
Also speaking in the same vain, National Incident Manager of the PTF, Dr Mukhtar Muhammad, warned against violating international travel COVID-19 protocols, saying violators stand the risk of imprisonment.
He stressed that the PTF would not fail to prosecute violators.
According to him, besides the fact that violating the travel protocols is a punishable crime in Nigeria, it is also a threat to the family and members of the communities where offenders belong.
He, however, assured that the PTF would continue to monitor the activities of international airlines and laboratories, as well as continue to take actions on travel advisories in order to ensure that the nation is secured against the pandemic.
“As you may all be aware, the PTF through NCAA had sanctioned and suspended an airline for its failure to comply with testing requirements and travel policies.
“While we explore infrastructure for setting up Rapid Antigen Test (RDT), the standard shall continue to be the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test performed 96 hours from the date of departure and a second PCR test on the 7th day after arrival.
“In the meantime, the PTF will continue to monitor compliance by all international airlines and approved laboratories and take necessary action on travel advisories for national interest and greater public safety.
“Last week we received report of some passengers who having violated the entry protocol were reported to have jumped quarantine. The PTF is taking the necessary steps to ensure timely prosecution of these passengers.
“For the benefit of the public, let me reiterate the protocol for passengers arriving without PCR or those who obtained a fake PCR results. These passengers will be tested on arrival immediately taken to a mandatory 7-day quarantine at designated hotels; at the expiry of which will have a second COVID-19 test using PCR.
“The Passengers will be responsible for all their hotel and laboratory bills as well as be liable to prosecution at the COVID-19 tribunal. Jumping Quarantine is a grave offence which is punishable by imprisonment and PTF will not shirk from prosecuting any violators.
“Nigerians must try to comply to the provisions of our entry protocol, because it is in your own best interest. Remember that if you obtain a fake PCR result and conspire and connived your way through the airport, you will be at a very high risk of taking COVID-19 infection to home to infect your loved ones and the people in your community”, he warned.
Speaking on the enforcement of the newly signed Corona Virus Disease Health Protection Regulations 2021, he commended the efforts of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in ensuring that residents comply with the regulations and charged states to take a cue, citing areas requiring special attention.
“From the larger stakeholder meeting that took place on January 29th 2021, the FCT Administration and Task Force Team has shown remarkable leadership and commitment in ensuring the new COVID regulation is publicized and enforced, especially in densely populated areas.
“Generally, more residents of the FCT are wearing facemasks and adhering to other covid-19 non-pharmaceutical policies. While commending the FCT for its efforts, it is pertinent that other states revive their task force teams and ensure the regulation is contextualized and implemented to curb community transmission.
“Notable areas that states should pay attention to are places worship, banks, public transport, the workplace, and schools. Markets and motor parks should also be regulated and regularly supervised for compliance”, he said.