The Federal Government has announced the restriction of international flights
into the country to two of the nation’s four international airports for effective
monitoring and surveillance of passengers, to prevent the spread of Coronavirus
(COVID-19).
The two airports are Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, and Murtala
Mohammed International Airport, Lagos.
This means that the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Kano,
and Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, will be closed to foreign
airlines’ arrivals until further notice.
The Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, disclosed this at a news conference
on Friday in Abuja.
Ehanire said for better control of new arrivals; international travels to Nigeria had
temporarily been limited to the two international airports.
“Other airports shall be closed to international traffic but open to domestic traffic;
this decision will be reviewed as the situation demands.
“Travelers 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,“ he said.
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,’’ he said.
According to him, Nigeria is experiencing an influx of imported COVID-19 by
travellers.
He emphasised on self–isolation for minimum of 14 days for the travellers
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,’’ he said.
Giving an update on the index case, the minister said the patient was stable and
had improved greatly, saying; “the first negative test was recorded yesterday, we
will discharge him if his next test is negative.
“Therefore as at March, 20, Nigeria has recorded 12 confirmed cases of COVID-
19; one case has been discharged from the hospital, the other cases are mild
and stable.
“Contact tracing is ongoing to trace those that have had contact with confirmed
cases and it is estimated that they are about 1,300 and they are going to be
traced,“he said.
Responding to questions on whether Nigeria will 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.
