Why FG May Suspend Passport, Cancel Visa of Travellers

The Muhammadu Buhari-led federal government has threatened to descend heavily on travellers that fail to take part in the mandatory COVID-19 PCR test.

This was disclosed on Monday by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 National Coordinator, Dr Sani Aliyu.

He stated that any Nigerian that skips the test will get six-month passport suspension, while foreigners face outright visa cancellation.

Aliyu said: “Just to make it clear, it is mandatory that you have the PCR test done on day 7th.

‘’When you arrive in the county (Nigeria) and for whatever reason you do not have a card that works on the system, and you are unable to pay at the airports, you will still have to make arrangement to pay before day 7th of the your test.

“If you do not have a test by day 14th regardless whether you have paid or not, we have a system for identifying cases with Nigerian passports and restrictions will be placed on those passports for six months period.

“For those that are non-Nigerians that have not had the PCR test done between the 7th and 14th days and on their way out of the country, we will revoke their visas.

“So there are clearly implications for not following the travel protocols and this is done in the interest of our country”.

According to Aliyu, only PCR test will be accepted for boarding, which must be carried out at most 96 hours to boarding.