Muhammad Babandede, Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, has ordered the NIS body to enforce the travel ban imposed on 100 travellers who flouted the mandatory seven-day post-arrival COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction test.
This was confirmed in a statement released by the NIS spokesman, DCI Sunday James on Monday.
According to the statement, the defaulting passengers had been restricted for six months, from January 1 to June 30, 2021, in line with the Federal Government’s directive.
It further stated that the affected passengers had been notified and will be prevented from passport re-issuance and travelling outside the country during the period.
The NIS in its statement warned the affected passengers to comply with the directive to avoid breaching public health protocols and refusal of departure.
It said, “In line with the Federal Government’s directives on temporary travel restrictions on 100 passengers due to non-compliance with the mandatory seven-day post-arrival COVID-19 PCR test by all in-bound travellers, the Comptroller-General of Nigeria Immigration Service, Muhammad Babandede, has directed the relevant formations to ensure immediate compliance with the travel restriction order.
“The 100 defaulting passengers have been restricted for a period of six months, from January 1st 2021 to June 30th 2021. All the affected passengers have been notified and will be prevented from passport re-issuance and travelling outside the country during this period.”
Recall that the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha, had earlier announced and revealed details of the offenders.
