Hundreds of passengers from three “restricted” countries face severe sanctions for contravening Covid-19 arrival protocols in Nigeria.

Nigeria warned last night that it may be forced to prosecute 222 international passengers who skipped mandatory quarantine on arrival.

Government said they violated the rules “by evading a mandatory seven-day quarantine for persons arriving from restricted countries.”

A 1 May 2021 travel advisory directed visitors and returnees from India, Brazil and Turkey to submit to the quarantine.

Passengers were also required to “follow mandatory arrival quarantine and testing protocols in designated facilities.”

On Sunday, Chairman of Presidential Steering Committee (PSC) on Covid-19, Boss Mustapha, called out 90 persons who flouted the rule.

There were 63 Nigerians and 27 foreigners in the list he released on behalf of the PSC.

Last night, the Committee released names of additional 132 passengers who artived the country through Abuja’s Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.

All passengers on the list, including 75 males and 57 females, are Nigerian citizens, he said.

In addition to their potential prosecution, the PSC chair, promised to visit them with additional sanctions.

Government will disable passports of Nigerian offenders for a year and cancel foreigner visas and permits for visitors, he said.

The 222 passengers were therefore declared “Persons of Interest (POI)” because they pose “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 48hrs of this notice for immediate evaluation…”

Mustapha asked the defaulters to also call Port Health Services, Federal Ministry of Health on 08036134672 or 08032461990 “for further directions.”

He said the May 2021 travel advisory for passengers from three countries was a precautionary measure “to mitigate the risk of importation of variants of the virus.”

It was also in line with the provisions of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Health Regulations Protection, 2021,” he said.

He disclosed that the 222 passengers who face the Covid-19 sanctions will be prosecuted under the 2021 Regulations.

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