The Federal Government of Nigeria is not contemplating imposition of travel ban over the spread of the deadly coronavirus disease, the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehinare has disclosed.
Addressing members of the diplomatic corps during an interactive parley on the new visa regime in Abuja on Thursday, Ehinare assured the foreign diplomats on the measures put in place by the Federal Government to contain the spread of the disease, noting that “there was no immediate reason for now to impose travel ban.”
He said the country was guided by the World Health Organisation guideline on coronavirus containment.
“Nigeria has not yet placed any travel restriction or ban, but we strongly advise against non-essential travel to countries with the high level of transmission which we define now as China, Japan, South Korea, Italy and Iran,” Ehanire stated.
The meeting which was at the instance of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, centred on measures taken by the Nigerian government in tackling the coronavirus and clarification on Nigeria’s ‘Visa Policy 2020.’
In attendance was the Minister of State, Health, Olorunnimbe Mamora, the Minister of State, Foreign Affairs, Amb. Zubairu Dada, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Mustapha Suleiman, and the Director-General of the National Centre for Disease Control, Chikwe Ihekweazu.
Ehinare said since the outbreak of the virus in Wuhan, China, the Ministry of Health had been strengthening Nigeria’s response and capacity for public health challenges.
Ehanire added that as of March 11, 2020, there were two confirmed cases of COVID-19 disease in the country, stating that there had been no death or serious illness.
