by Peregba Jerry
The Chairman of the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha, has lamented that some returning foreign passengers escaped from isolation facilities, violating the mandatory quarantine requirement under the advisory earlier issued.
He said the committee frowned on such act, adding that appropriate punishment would be meted out to anyone found culpable upon the completion of their investigation.
Mustapha said, “The PSC has received reports of some returning foreign passengers who violated the mandatory quarantine requirement under the advisory by escaping from the facilities.
“We deprecate such violation of the laws of our land and our hospitality. The PSC is awaiting the report of ongoing investigations and we wish to assure Nigerians that appropriate sanctions would be imposed on the violators.”
Mustapha disclosed that the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government had fixed the cost of COVID-19 testing, whether PCR or otherwise, at $50 at all Points of Entry with effect from May 17, 2021.
This, he said, was to ease travel and trade among citizens of ECOWAS States travelling within the region.
Also speaking at the press briefing of the PSC, the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, stated that the experience of other countries such as India, Pakistan and Thailand showed the unpredictable nature of the virus, urging Nigerians not to lose their guard.
The minister urged Nigerians to take responsibility as they celebrate Sallah, adding that the experience of the third wave of the virus from India among others was fuelled by elections and religious gatherings.
