BEVERLY HILLS, May 27, (THEWILL) – Nigeria Wednesday suspended further evacuation of stranded citizens from countries abroad to allow authorities implement a new policy that is expected to ensure that only those who are COVID-19 free are transported and brought back home. The policy is also expected to make their return to their homes in the country seamless.
Foreign Affairs Minister Geoffrey Onyeama, who announced the development to the press, said implementation of the new policy would commence next week.
“There is going to be a change in that protocol and that is going to affect the timing of any further evacuation we are going to undertake. Anybody that is going to be evacuated will first of all undergo a test from the countries they are leaving from, at least five days before travel and not later than nine days before. That will be a pre-condition for boarding the flights to Nigeria. And if they are positive, they will not be able to board the flight.
“On arrival in Nigeria, Aliko Dangote and his other partners will have in place these units where they will take samples from the passengers coming in and they will retain their passports. The passengers will then be able to go home and not into prescribed hotels to self-isolate.
“Results from those samples will then be ready within a day or two; those who are positive will then be taking in for isolation. The whole issue of quarantining in hotels will no longer be necessary. This can also mean more people can also come back more frequently, and it will be a lot easier than it has been up to now.
“What we have been asked to do is to cease or suspend all evacuations for now until this new structure is put into place. We are very hopeful that maybe by next week, we should be able to commence evacuation,” he said.
THEWILL reports that the country has so far evacuated 989 stranded citizens from the West and the Middle East. 265 from the United Arab Emirates, 253 from the United Kingdom, 160 from the United States, 292 from Saudi Arabia and 57 from Lebanon.
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