The Nigerian Government has declared 90 passengers who arrived from Brazil, Turkey, United Arab Emirates and India as Persons Of Interest for violating COVID-19 quarantine protocol.
The Presidential Steering Committee Chairman, Boss Mustapha, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.
He said the individuals on the list, 27 Indians and 63 Nigerians, arrived Nigeria through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja between May 8 and 15 after the new regulations had been put in place.
Mustapha noted that on May 1, 2021, the PSC issued a travel advisory for passengers arriving in Nigeria from Brazil, India and Turkey, and that “these precautionary measures are necessary steps to mitigate the risk of importation of variants of concern and break the chain of transmission to the population.”
He explained that under the new measures, passengers arriving from/or that have visited any of these three countries within 14 days prior to the visit to Nigeria are required to follow mandatory arrival quarantine and testing protocols in designated facilities.
However, while most of the arriving passengers dutifully observed the guidelines, some Nigerians and foreigners violated them in contravention of the provisions of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Health Regulations Protection, 2021.
Mustapha said all the 90 passengers “have been declared Persons of Interest (POI)” as they posed considerable danger to overall public health.
“Members of the public are by this notice advised that these persons of interest constitute an immediate health hazard to the society.
“They must therefore transport themselves safely to the nearest state public health departments within 48 hours of this notice for immediate evaluation,” he said.
The list of the Indian violators includes include Abha Jalandhar Punjab, Ajaya Kumarmurali, Kapil Shikarpur Uttarpradesh, Chandra Dakshya, Vekwa Dinesh Kumar, Thatill Tijo George, Anand Amit Kumar, Puthussery John Joseph, Rathore Babu Lal, Umesh Narayan Kotian, Kabid Shauna, Ramesh Rao, Biswal Naresh, Puthussery John Joseph, Mukherjee Sobhan, Birla Mahesh Kumar, Mishra Ajay Kumar, Mishra Shlok, Mihsra Nanjari, Bendre Abhijit Bhagwan, Shah Jignesh, Dogra Sumit, Pradhan Bharat Chandra, Chandan Kumar Pandey, Kaur Armin, Francis Micky and Pokale Honaji.
The names of Nigerians on the list include Imojire Charles Edemhenmhen, Shittu Olamide Hammed, Niguri Elizabeth T. and Oviasuyi Osage Brown, who were said to have arrived Nigeria through the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport on May 15, 2021.
Others are Ogunsanya Omotola S., Chioma Ebeh, Gerald Chukwuma Anyadigibe Adedapo-Aisida Oluwayemisi, Obi Tochukwu Bright, Ajibade, Temitope, Abdulsalam Yusuf, Umezurike Bernard, Passos Okori, Obi John, Unaje Chuks, Eluke Aaron, Mogbonjubolataiwo, Adesina Adeola Kudirat, Adesina Abdulselem O, Onukwube Ericm, Okonkwo Chukwuebuka, Lebura Agefachuwku, Obidi Chukwud, Onyekwelu Dumebi, Anakpe Reuben, among others.
Mustapha said Nigerians should also call the Port Health Services, Federal Ministry of Health, on 08036134672 or 08032461990 for further directions.
He said that the PSC should, in addition, take further steps to sanction the violators, adding that the steps included disabling their travel passports for a period not less than one year.
Mustpha said the steps also included the “cancellation of the visas/permits of foreigners that have abused our hospitality and prosecution under the 2021 Health Protection Regulations.”
He said that additional list of Batch II defaulters would be published in subsequent announcement by the PSC.