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COMPULSORY! Returning Nigerians to be quarantined —FG
The Federal Government on Tuesday said Nigerians returning to the country through government’s arranged evacuation would be compulsorily quarantined on arrival.
According to the Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the returnees would not be allowed to self isolate as some of them are known to break the rules, adding that government won’t jeopardise the health of about 200 million Nigerians by permitting citizens coming into the country to observe self-isolation.
Dabiri-Erewa, who disclosed this while answering questions on her Twitter handle on Tuesday, added that upon entry into Nigeria, they would be quarantined at a location approved by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) for two weeks and tested for COVID-19.
“Compulsory. At a facility provided by the government. From past experiences according to NCDC, most broke the self-isolation rules.
Read also: Nigerian medical researcher claims to have cure for COVID-19
“That is why the NCDC gave strict conditions. Test before coming, and on arrival 14-day compulsory isolation. But some say it’s too tough. The interests of 200m Nigerians must be put into consideration”, she said.
The NIDCOM boss further insisted that Nigerians who tested positive for the virus would not be allowed into the country.
Dabiri-Erewa also cited the example of the 24 Nigerians, who recently returned from Togo, adding that one of them who tested positive is still in Togo while others were allowed into the country but have been quarantined in an NCDC facility where they would be for two weeks.
According to her, they would be tested again for coronavirus at the end of their stay and only those who tested negative would be released to join the Nigerian population.
She further stated that one of the conditions for the evacuation was for evacuees to test negative for the virus and they would be required to present the certificate of the test to authorities before they are allowed to board the flight.
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