FG threatens to sanction returnees who have refused to run the COVID-19 test.

The Presidential Task Force on COVID-19
on Monday said no fewer than 39,070
passengers, who arrived the country did
not pay for coronavirus test.

The Chairman of the PTF, Boss Mustapha,
who indicated this at the PTF press conference in Abuja, also disclosed that
some travellers presented fake documents on COVID-19 tests and other information.

Pre- and post-arrival tests are two of the
protocols for travellers using the country’s
airports and the tests are paid for by
travellers, who cannot be tested unless they make the payments.

But on Monday, Mustapha said some of those who paid for post-arrival test had
failed to show up for the tests.

Mustapha, who is also the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, said the PTF has been evaluating the compliance of Nigerians with the protocols for testing by inbound and outbound travellers.

“It has been discovered that some of these travellers have indulged in presenting fake documents. Some that have paid for post-arrival testing have failed to show up for the tests”, Mustapha said.

He said that statistics showed that as of
November 9, the total number of bookings was 91,522; total number of passengers exempt (diplomats and some others), 5,470 (6%); children, 1,248 (1.36 per cent); diplomats, 3,392 (3.7 per cent); and evacuees, 830 (0.9 per cent),

The SGF also said while the total passengers expected to pay were 86,052 (94 per cent), those that paid were 46,982 (54.6 per cent) and those that had not paid were 39,070 (45.45 per cent).

“Travellers that have arrived in-country but
have not paid (approximately 39,000). Amount paid to private labs by passengers who have refused to take the post-arrival seven-day test is between N220m and 270m,” he said.

Mustapha said that the PTF was concluding steps to work with relevant institutions and legal authorities to impose appropriate sanctions on those that defaulted on the protocols.

He said that the various guidelines and
the testing regime prescribed for in-bound
passengers would remain in force.

Sani Aliyu who is the National Coordinator for the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 stated the PTF had compiled the list of the first 300 passengers that have not
done the test up to day 14.

“We are going to streamline these results and create a COVID-19 restriction list for
passengers that have not abided by our
protocols and these passengers will not be allowed to fly for a period of six months.

“We hope that we don’t have to continue doing this and people will continue to comply with our protocol,” he said.