Pressure to shut borders mounts
The federal government has issued a ban all its officials, including public and civil servants, from travelling abroad.
The secretary to the government of the federation and chairman, Presidential Task Force on Covid-19, Mr. Boss Mustapha made the announcement in Abuja yesterday.
Mustapha who briefed the media on the outcome of the meeting of the task force said the ban took immediate effect and affected all trips earlier approved.
“After due consideration and the trend of the spread of the novel Coronavirus, and subsequent declaration of the outbreak as a pandemic by the World Health Organisation, the committee has decided that we upscale our health emergency system to the highest level and put a measure to curb further spread.
“So far, we have had three cases; two positive and one negative. We want to make sure it does not spread beyond this minor figure.
“On the part of government, it has become necessary to advise all public officials in the ministries, department and agencies, including parastatals, that government has banned all forms of travelling out of the country, for whatever reasons.
“Whether for meetings bilateral or multilateral conferences, seminars, workshops, presentations, negotiations and other forms of ceremonies, this ban will remain in force until the situation of coronavirus abates,” he said
The committee advised Nigerians to cancel or postpone all non-essential travels, including business and vacation trips, especially to high risk countries.
“This is especially so, when it comes to travelling to countries known to be seriously affected by the Covid-19.
“Such high-risk countries are China, Iran, South Korea, Germany, Italy, United States, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Norway, Netherlands, Spain, France and Japan,” Mustapha added.
Meanwhile, the Advocacy for Integrity and Economic Development (AIED), called on the federal government close the nation’s borders.
“We find it extremely hard to understand the motive behind the refusal of the President Buhari’s administration to close the Nigerian borders and shut down our airports against travellers from coronavirus-infected countries in the wake of the pandemic.
“It is unexplainable that a father will knowingly and wishfully expose his children to the cold hands of death to satisfy the ego of superiority in the fight against the deadly COVID-19.
“Let’s make no mistake, Nigeria is on the brink of an outbreak and like South Korea, which was doing everything right until Patient Number 31 decided to disobey social distancing orders, we cannot afford to leave the country to the unseen hands of the divine.
“President Buhari must take action. This is not a plea. He swore an oath of allegiance to Nigeria and Nigerians, and the safety of Nigerians must come first,” said AIED in a statement by its director of media and publicity, Mr. O’Seun John.
Similarly, the president of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Dr. Francis Faduyile, said it was high time the federal government took the decision to “close its borders to countries with high cases of coronavirus.”
Also, the president of Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Mr. Sam Ohuabunwa, called for compulsory quarantine of persons from high risk countries.
“When people come from countries with high prevalence of coronavirus, they should do compulsory quarantine. Suppose the people you ask to do self-quarantine refuse and go about their businesses, what would happen? They would spread the virus!”
However, he added: “I personally do not subscribe to closing borders. If everyone closes his borders, what do you think will happen to the world? There are still necessary travels that need to be done. But if you travel, ensure you self-quarantine.”
The national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, also toed the AIED’s line saying the party’s position aligns with the decision by advanced countries like the United Kingdom to shut its borders as part of measures for containing the pandemic.
He said in Abuja that the party would not sit back and watch Nigerians exposed to the disease by foreigners.
He promised to lead a team of national working committee of the APC to interface with the minister of health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire with a view to protecting Nigerians.
In its contribution, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) charged the federal government to go beyond “rudimentary interventions and adopt more stringent measures to further safeguard our nation from the COVID-19 pandemic.”
The party, in a statement by its spokesman, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, expressed concern that the current approach in tackling the disease falls short of the required pre-emptive measures, thereby leaving gaps that expose the nation to avoidable risks.
“Nigeria is a strategic international hub. As such, the Federal Government should adopt stringent pre-emptive measures by radically stepping up our international ports and border screening as well as quickly improving our internal surveillance and hygiene monitoring system,” said the PDP
The party further urged the federal government to “go beyond its proposed secondary screening of travellers from certain countries and extend the measure to all international flights coming into the country, given the prevalence of connecting flights and land border crossing by international air travellers.”
Also, a Coalition of Civil Society Groups in Nigeria country yesterday called on the federal government to consider immediate measures to limit public gatherings and promote safe social contacts among citizens.
The 21 groups also called on the government to allow only essential travels into the country.
They made the call in a joint statement signed by Policy and Legislative Advocacy Centre, Centre for Liberty, Stakeholders Democracy Network (SDN), Silverchip Fox, TechHer, Butterfly Effect Empowerment Initiative, YIAGA Africa, Concerned Nigerians, Free Nigeria Movement, Adopt A Goal Initiative, Dinidari Foundation, and Rule of Law Development Foundation.
The others were: Education as a Vaccine, Stand to End Rape Initiative (STER), Centre for Democracy Development, Girl Child Africa, TAP Initiative, Centre for Impact Advocacy (CiA), Raising New Voices Initiative, Global Rights, and Connected Development (CODE).
“We cannot and should not contemplate banning Nigerians from returning home in these difficult times, but it is obvious that it is time for drastic measures to protect our country and a fragile health system that has been neglected for too many years. The federal government and states must recognise, like other countries that this is the most urgent of national security matters.
“Effort should be put in place to closely monitor our land borders and ensure basic health protocols for preventing the spread of coronavirus. Governments at all levels should consider immediate measures to limit public gatherings and promote safe social contacts among citizens,” said the advocacy groups
As a news case of COVID-19has been confirmed in the country, the federal government approved the postponement of the 20th edition of the National Sports Festival scheduled to begin in Benin City on March 20.
The minister of youth and sports Mr. Sunday Dare and the minister of state for health, Dr. Olorunimbe Mamora, disclosed this in Abuja after a meeting with President Buhari in Abuja.
“For the benefit of the sporting community, the ministry of youth and sports recognises the fact that a lot of resources, a lot of efforts on the part of our athletes have gone into preparing for Edo 2020. But we think that staying healthy, to be able to compete in not just Edo 2020 but other sports and tournaments, is very important,” said Dare.
“After briefing Mr. President, he took the initiative and gave the directive that the National Sports Festival, christened Edo 2020, should be postponed as a precautionary measure against the press of COVID-19. A new date will be communicated later based on development around COVID-19,” Mamora said.
He further said the principle of social distancing must be observed. “That also extends to religious gathering or any other gathering that would have a large number of people. It is not advisable at this point in time,” he said.
However, he added: “What I can say for now is that the immediate issue before us is the national sports festival and our meeting with Mr. President essentially was to convey our thoughts in that regard and Mr. President did the right thing by approving the need for the postponement. But social distancing is desirable at this point in time.”
On the possibility of restrictions to flight from high-risk countries, Mamora said the ministry would address the issue at an appropriate time. “There will be subsequent briefings from the ministry because each situation is reviewed as it comes to us,” he said.
