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Covid-19: PTF says returnees presenting fake test results, advises Nigerians to shelve Christmas travel plans
By Emmanuel Awosika
The Presidential Task Force on the Covid-19 pandemic (PTF) has called attention to the continued violation of travel protocols by international travellers.
PTF Chairman, Boss Mustapha, alleged that some travellers presented fake Covid-19 test results while many others failed to take the seven-day post-arrival test.
Mustapha made this known while addressing stakeholders at the weekly media briefing by the task force.
He said: “The PTF has been evaluating the compliance of Nigerians with the protocols for testing by in-bound and out-bound travellers. It has been discovered that some of these travellers have indulged in presenting fake documents.
“Some that have paid for post-arrival testing have failed to show up for the tests. Statistics show the following as at 9/11/2020: Total No of bookings: 91,522. Total No of passengers exempted: 5,470 (6%).
“Children: 1,248 (1.36%). Diplomats: 3,392 (3.7%). Evacuees: 830 (0.9%). Total Passengers expected to Pay: 86,052(94%), Paid: 46,982 (54.6%), Not Paid: 39,070(45.45%).
“Travellers that have arrived in-country but have not paid (approximately 39,000).
“Amount paid to private labs by passengers, who have refused to take the post-arrival seven-day test: NGN220 – N270 million.”
The PTF boss, however, stated that the task force was making plans to enforce sanctions for the erring travellers, adding that it had compiled about three hundred names already.
The PTF also raised concerns about the possibility of a second wave of Covid-19 in Nigeria, urging Nigerians to shelve Christmas travel plans to avoid contacting the virus.
“Ahead of the upsurge in travels for the Christmas and New Year festivities, we urge strongly that for this year, such trips should be put on hold firmly because of the risks involved. The transmission rate has simply become astronomical,” he said.
