The Nigerian Federal Government has barred all public officials from travelling abroad as part of measures taken to curtail the spread of the Coronavirus.

Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha announced the ban after a meeting held by  the presidential task force on coronavirus in Abuja on Tuesday.

“After due consideration and the trend of the novel coronavirus disease – COVID-19 and the subsequent declaration as pandemic by the World Health Organisation, the committee has decided that we upscale our health emergency system to the highest level and put in measures to curb further spread of the disease,” he said.

“So far, we have three cases, two have tested positive, one negative. We will want to ensure that this does not go beyond this minor figure for now. On the part of government we have decided that it has become necessary to advise all public officials in the ministries, departments and agencies and the parastatals that government has banned all forms of travel out of the country for whatever reasons, bilateral, multilateral, conferences, seminars, workshops, negotiations, presentations and any form of other ceremonies. This ban will remain in place till further notice and until the situation of the coronavirus abates.

“By this notice, any prior approval to travel abroad for official assignments during this period is accordingly rescinded. With regards to the general public, we want to advise strongly that citizens in their own interest should cancel or postpone all nonessential travel abroad including business and vacation trips. This is especially for travels to countries known to be seriously affected by COVID-19.”

The SGF also advised all Nigerians to cancel all travels abroad, especially to all high-risk countries.

“Such high risk countries are China, Iran, South Korea, Germany, Italy, USA, UK, Switzerland, Norway, Netherlands, Spain, France and Japan.

“Secondly, we urge anyone returning from any country to strictly self-isolate for 14 days in their homes.
The Nigerian Center for Disease Control has this morning released guidelines for self-isolation, we will ensure that those guidelines are widely publicised.

“Thirdly, all people returning from countries with high community transmission rate especially, countries that have recorded  1000 cumulative cases and above, will be actively followed up for 14 days by the health authorities. We want to put on notice that the Nigerian government supports the measures taken by the governments of other countries particularly high burden countries who have urged their residents to stay home and avoid nonessential travels particularly and inclusive to Nigeria.

“We want to urged the Nigerian people to continue to maintain high level of sanitation and hygiene and respiratory etiquette which has been repeatedly advised. Maintaining social distance and avoiding crowded areas should begin to become our lifestyle. We will continue to look at emerging scenarios and on a continuous basis you will receive further briefings. But for now, we believe strongly that this particular pandemic is the most important public health emergency of our generation and we must treat it with every seriousness that it deserves.”