The Lagos State Government has revealed that foreigners flouting Covid-19 guidelines may be deported and also warned that Nigerian residents flouting new travel protocols will be prosecuted.
This was disclosed by the Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Tuesday in a statement, while giving the update on the management of the Coronavirus in the state, according to NAN.
The Governor disclosed that the new regulation is a collaboration between the state and the Presidential Steering Committee, and would commence the prosecution of those that refuse to submit themselves for the mandatory tests, by blacklisting their passports for one year.
What the Governor is saying
Governor Sanwo-Olu said, ”All foreigners that flout the rules would be subjected to possible deportation.
”Therefore, I implore all intending inbound passengers to perform their required tests at any of the private laboratories within the Lagos State Private Laboratory Consortium as and when due.”
He added that the current guidelines on travel protocols released by the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 must be strictly followed by all passengers arriving in Nigeria.
Sanwo-Olu also said that “the regulation of Day 2 and Day 7 tests for inbound passengers for international flights were mandatory to assist Lagos State to monitor the inflow of positive passengers, which it had identified as a veritable source of waves and community spread of the virus and warned against intending outbound passengers procuring fake COVID test results and/or vaccination cards for travel purposes.
”We implore everyone to desist from patronising these gangs, as anyone found with a fake COVID test result and/or vaccination card will also be liable to prosecution and very stiff penalties.
”Our State Mobile Courts will be used to prosecute all those involved in flouting the regulations; as well as those engaged in the fraudulent production of fake COVID test results and vaccination certificates.
”To this end, the Lagos State Ministry of Health is collaborating with various enforcement stakeholders from the Ministry of Justice and the Task Force to ensure prompt prosecution of these individuals.”
He also warned that based on state analysis, Lagos was experiencing the beginning of a fourth wave with a current positivity rate of six per cent, which was against the positivity rates of 0.1 per cent, as of the middle of November 2021 in the state.
The Governor said that the fourth wave was brought by the non-adherence to the laid down protocols to mitigate this pandemic and urged citizens to get vaccinated and join hands with the Lagos State Government in managing this wave of the pandemic in this festive season.
Recall Nairametrics reported earlier that the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 released a revised travel protocol for international travellers arriving in Nigeria.