Atiku Abubakar has called on President Buhari to restrict flights from countries with a high prevalence of coronavirus, saying its global best practice.
Two weeks ago, When Nigeria recorded the first case of COVID-19, Mr. Abubakar, a top challenger of President Buhari in the 2019 Presidential election, asked the federal government to “temporarily halt flights to and from any nation with a prevalence of this scourge.” He also advised investing in new detection facilities at the airports.
Two weeks after, according to the latest figures, there are now more than 100 cases in 11 African countries. Egypt accounted for more than half of the total number for the continent. Algeria (20) and South Africa (13) have recorded increased cases.
In his latest call on the Federal Government to restrict travel from countries with a high prevalence rate of COVID-19, Mr. Abubakar said it was a global practice that was necessary to protect citizens of Nigeria.
“This is patriotic call on the Federal Government of Nigeria to take every reasonable step to protect the citizens of Nigeria, by temporarily suspending flights to and from such countries, until we build up our ability to contain the coronavirus,” he said.
With the disease declared a pandemic by the World Health Organisation and increasing cases of the infection reported in the United States, Europe, and the Middle East, many countries are initiating travel restrictions. Saudi Arabia suspended travel from 50 countries. President Trump also announced travel suspension from 26 European countries to the US for 30 days beginning from Friday, excluding the United Kingdom. At least 16 nations have varying degrees of travel suspension policies in place.
President Buhari has asked Nigerians to not panic. The country which confirmed a second case of the infection – had contact with the index case in Nigeria — has not initiated travel suspension. Several government officials had said Nigeria was ready to detect any evidence of COVID-19 at the airport.
When an Italian was later discovered to be infected after he had been cleared at the Lagos Airport and had gone to Ogun State, the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, explained that the screening equipment at the airport could only detect infected persons who showed symptoms.
Many people, including a Nigerian Senator, Ajayi Boroffice, had faulted the screening measures at the airport.
There’s concern about asking persons arriving into the country to provide contact details could be ineffective –if not verified, because some may give false information. This concern turned out right when the Commissioner for health in Lagos, Akin Abayomi, had to release the names of two people –who arrived Nigeria on the same flight as the index patient — because health authorities could not trace or reach them through the information they gave at the airport. In China, eight passengers from Italy tested positive after they passed screening at the Shanghai airport.
Thermal scanners and handheld thermometers are not perfect. According to the EU Health Programme, the devices produce false positives as well as false negatives. It measures skin temperature rather than core body temperature – the critical parameter for fevers. Some passengers may take fever suppressing drugs or lie about their symptoms. A COVID-19 positive person who slips through the screening at the airport is a danger to the uninfected.
It is not clear whether health screenings take place at the land borders. Some say that even with health screenings, foreigners can get into the country without being screened because the land borders are porous. Cases of COVID-19 spreading in Europe and Asia had made Nigeria focus screening campaigns on its International airports. As cases of the virus gradually increase in Africa, there are calls for health screening at Nigeria’s land borders.
As of the morning of March 13th, COVID-19 had spread to 114 countries, and 130,000 people infected. The World Bank has declared it a pandemic. The Nigerian government has not suspended travel from countries that have high cases of the infection even though countries with more reliable health systems have declared travel suspension.
While the government has assured citizens of its capability to handle the outbreak in the country, some are concerned that President Buhari has not declared travel suspension as an additional measure to prevent an epidemic in the country.
- PHOTOS: After 48 Days in Hospital, Boy Labelled Witch and Abandoned is Discharged - August 8, 2021
- Travellers Complain Over Fly Infested Aminu Kano Airport - August 6, 2021
- Ondo 2020: Mimiko Criticises Akeredolu’s Performance - September 28, 2020
