Nigeria has reintroduced strict measures for COVID-19 prevention and control amid high risk of a surge of cases in Africa.
All recreational venues, gyms and indoor sports facilities will remain closed until June 11.
Enclosed mass gatherings will be limited to 50 people, with requirements to observe social distancing and wearing of face masks.
All international passengers arriving in the West African country will be required to undergo a seven-day mandatory quarantine.
All public settings, including workplace buildings, businesses, places of worship, recreational facilities, markets and motor parks are required to enforce temperature checks and a “no-mask, no-entry” policy.
Each state government is required to set up a mobile tribunal for the prosecution of violators. Security agents are authorized to arrest violators under the Health Protection Regulation 2021.
Since May 4, non-Nigerians and nonresident permit holder travelers from Brazil, India and Turkey, where there are high incidences of cases, high fatality rates and widespread prevalence of coronavirus variants, have been banned from entering Nigeria.
Nigerians and those with a permanent resident permit arriving from the three countries, are required to undergo a seven-day mandatory quarantine in a government-approved facility at the point-of-entry city and at a cost to the passenger.
Passengers from other destinations should observe a seven-day self-isolation at their final destination and are required to receive a test for the novel coronavirus on day seven at a selected laboratory.
All inbound international passengers are required to certify they are negative for the virus with a test taken four days before departure.
According to the presidential steering committee on the coronavirus, the measures will enable the government to effectively prevent and control the resurgence of an acute phase of the pandemic as well as continue to strengthen its public health systems, and protect the lives of Nigerians and the economy.
“While the country’s vaccine rollout has begun, there is a shortage in global supplies affected by the current situation in India. This translates to a delay in vaccinating a large proportion of the population, and therefore a risk of a large outbreak especially in the context of poor adherence to the recommended public health and social measures,” the committee said in a statement.
As of May 12, Nigeria had recorded a total of 165, 468 cases and 2,065 deaths. Lagos, the country’s largest city, leads in the number of infections, with 58,599 cases and 439 deaths, followed by the Federal Capital Territory with 19, 836 cases and 166 deaths and Kaduna with 9,065 cases and 65 deaths.
