The federal government has restricted international flights to the Murtala International Airport, Lagos, and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, for effective monitoring and surveillance, to prevent the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19).
The Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, who disclosed this at a news conference on Friday in Abuja, said the Presidential Task Force on Coronavirus made the decision at a meeting held at the Presidential Villa earlier in the day.
Ehanire said for better control of new arrivals, international travels to Nigeria had temporarily been limited to the two international airports.
He said, “Other airports shall be closed to international traffic, but open to domestic traffic; this decision will be reviewed as the situation demands. Travellers from all countries shall be requested to self- isolate for 14 days following the guidelines provided to them; non-compliance put your families and country at risk.”
The minister, however, confirmed four new cases of COVID-19 in Lagos, bringing the total number of cases to 12.
“On March, 19, four additional cases of COVID 19 were confirmed in Lagos, this brings the total number of confirmed cases in Nigeria to 12. Of the 12 confirmed cases, nine were reported in Lagos, two in Ogun state and one in Ekiti.”
According to him, Nigeria is experiencing an influx of imported COVID-19 by travelers.
He stressed that self–isolation for minimum of 14 days for the travelers coming in to the country, even when they were feeling very well.
“Eight of the 12 cases are travellers from Italy, U.S., UK and France; three of the cases however, are contacts of the index. One case confirmed yesterday does not have travelling history, may be the case must have met with foreign visitors.
“The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), is working closely with Lagos, Ogun and Ekiti to carry contact tracing of the confirmed cases. I emphasise that contact tracing is extremely important.”
Ehanire said following the declaration of COVID-19 pandemic by the World Health Organisation (WHO), and increase in recorded cases, the Federal government had continued to improve on its detective measures.
“Our strategy is to detect and isolate new cases to interrupt and stop the spread of the virus.
“To this end, we have scaled up our response effort, and to reduce the spread, the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 has placed restriction on travelers from 14 high-risk countries.
“The federal government will restrict entry into Nigeria of persons from listed high burden countries with effect from Friday March 20, for a period of four weeks.”
On whether or not Nigeria would not adopt the use of Chloroquine to treat COVID-19 patients as approved by the U.S., Ehanire said the country would consult and follow the advice from Nigerian experts.
He said the federal government would upgrade the existing five laboratories to boost testing of the virus in the country.
