Joseph Bakare
The federal government has placed a temporary ban on foreign trips for all public officials to curtail coronavirus spread.
This was part of the resolution reached by the Presidential Task Force on coronavirus; chaired by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha.
Mustapha briefed journalists on the resolutions of the meeting in Abuja on Tuesday, March 17.
The taskforce also “strongly discourages travel by Nigerians to affected countries except for essential trips.”
The committee also rejected calls by many Nigerians to restrict travel from countries with high cases of coronavirus.
Many countries, including African countries like Ghana and South Africa; have already put such restrictions in place to limit the importation of the disease from highly-affected countries.
Rather than do that, the presidential committee “encouraged everyone returning to Nigeria from any country to self-isolate for 14 days.”
“All those returning from countries where there is high (over 1000 cases cumulatively) community transmission; will be actively followed up for 14 days by NCDC & Port Health Services,” the committee resolved.
The committee was set up by President Muhammadu Buhari to spearhead the coordination of anti-Covid-19 activities in the country.
The meeting was summoned after the government got a notification of the third confirmed Covid-19 case in the country.
Osagie Ehanire, the Minister of Health had earlier explained the meeting would determine what step the government would take to curtail the spread of the disease in the country.
He said the committee would discuss if there is a need to ban flights and social gatherings in the country.
“With regard to banning flights into Nigeria or social activities and festivals; I will provide an update after the deliberations of the Inter-Ministerial meeting of the Presidential Taskforce on Coronavirus, scheduled for later today, headed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
“The Federal Government of Nigeria will make further announcements later today,” the minister had said.
The committee urged all Nigerians to maintain personal and respiratory hygiene.
It said decisions will be reviewed appropriately as the situation evolves.