By Abba Gwale
The Federal Government has said airlines risk the fine of $3,500 for bringing passengers from Brazil, Turkey and India.
It will be recalled that Nigeria has banned passengers who have visited Brazil, Turkey and India in the last 14 days from entering the country due to a surge in cases in the those countries
The protocol also reduced the validity period of negative Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests for Nigeria-bound passengers from 96 to 72 hours.
The new guidelines said within 24 hours of arrival, a passenger would take a COVID-19 PCR test and if positive, would be treated at a government-owned isolation centre. If it is negative, the passenger will be quarantined and made to repeat the test on the 7th day.
According to the Presidential Steering Committee chaired by Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, the new guidelines would be reviewed in the next four weeks.
The move has dealt a blow to Ethiopian Airlines, Turkish Air, Qatar, RwandAir, among others which operate these routes, cutting off their Nigerian passengers.
The Committee also warned Nigerians to avoid visiting those countries except for very essential reasons.
