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Nigeria Government delists India from restricted countries’ list
The Federal Government has lifted the ban placed on flights coming into the country from India.
The Nigerian government had earlier banned passengers that visited India, Brazil, South Africa, and Turkey in the last 14 days from entering the country as part of precautionary measures to contain the virus in the country.
But in the new travel protocol released on Sunday, the Chairman, Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha, indicated that the ban placed on passengers from India has been lifted.
The reviewed protocol took effect from September 14, 2021.
However, the sanctions placed on airlines that convey passengers from restricted countries and travellers who are Non-Nigerians remain.
Mustapha said, “Non-Nigerian passport holders and non-residents who visited Brazil, Turkey or South Africa within 14 days preceding travel to Nigeria, shall be refused entry into Nigeria. This regulation, however, does not apply to passengers who transited through these countries.
“Airlines who fail to comply shall mandatorily pay a penalty of $3,500 defaulting passenger, and non-Nigerians will be denied entry and returned to the country of embarkation at the cost to the Airline; Nigerians and those with a permanent residence permit who visited Brazil, Turkey, and South Africa within 14 days preceding travel to Nigeria shall be made to undergo seven days of mandatory quarantine in a Government approved facility at the point-of-entry city and cost to the passenger.
“The following conditions shall apply to such passengers: Within 24 hours of arrival shall take a COVID-19 PCR test;
ii. If Positive, the passenger shall be admitted within a government-approved treatment centre, in line with national treatment protocols; and
iii. If Negative, the Passenger shall continue to remain in quarantine and be made to undergo a repeat PCR test on Day-7 of their quarantine.
“False declaration: passenger(s) who provided false or misleading contact information will be liable to prosecution; and person(s) who willfully disregard or refuse to comply with directions of Port-Health staff, security agencies or evade quarantine shall be prosecuted following the law
“This protocol comes into effect from 14th September 2021.”
He said before departure from exit country, passengers must perform a COVID-19 PCR test not more than three days before boarding, adding that the PCR tests done more than 72 hours before departure are not valid and persons will not be allowed to board.
The PSC chairman stressed that airlines have been directed not to board passengers with non-PCR COVID-19 tests (such as antigen/or antibody tests), a positive COVID-19 PCR test result, or tests performed beyond 72 hours of boarding.
He added, “Airlines that board passengers without any of the TWO documents (a negative COVID-19 PCR test done not more than 72 hours before boarding and a Permit to Travel Certificate/QR code), shall be sanctioned as follows: passengers, who are Non-Nigerians, will be refused entry and returned to the point of embarkation at a cost to the airline;
“Passengers who are Nigerians or holders of a permanent residence permit will be allowed entry but subjected to the procedure outlined in Section D.
“In addition, passengers arriving with forged (fake) COVID-19 PCR results shall be referred for prosecution; airlines shall be fined $3,500 per passenger.”
He said all passengers arriving in Nigeria will be required to go through the routine Port Health screening and present electronic or print-out evidence of pre-boarding COVID-19 PCR test and the Permit to Travel Certificate/QR Code as well as Present their international passports for clearance through the Nigerian Immigration Service System’s Migrants Identification Data Analysis System.
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Gombe State Command, says no fewer than 108 persons were killed in 328 Road Traffic Crashes (RTCs) that occurred across the state in 2024.
The state Sector Commander of the corps, Mr Samson Kaura, disclosed this on Monday, in Akko, the command headquarters while briefing newsmen.
Kaura said that 1,078 persons were injured in the auto crashes within the period under review.
He added that there was decrease in number of crashes in 2024 compared with that of 2023.
According to him, in 2023, we recorded 351 road traffic crashes while in 2024, we recorded 328.
”The command was also able to reduce deaths from auto crashes within the year under review through collaboration with relevant ministries and agencies in the state.”
The sector commander also said that 2, 196 persons were involved the crashes within the period under review, with 1, 078 persons injured, and 1,010 unhurt.
He said that in 2023, 2, 588 persons were involved in various RTCs across the state, with 1,308 of them sustaining varying degrees of injuries while 1,161 were recorded unhurt.
Kaura also disclosed that 471 vehicles were involved the crashes within the period under review, against 515 recorded in 2023.
He explained that the command recorded a 6.6 per cent reduction in RTCs in 2024, compared to 2023.
He said that the major causes of crash in 2024 were speed, overloading, loss of control and wrongful overtaking, adding that the corps had stepped up efforts towards sensitising motorists in the state against these menace.
He said that the measures taken in 2024 had yielded positive results in terms of the reduction in the number of crashes and people killed.
”Therefore we will strengthen our collaborations with critical stakeholders towards sensitising more road users in the state as well as improving on enforcement of traffic rules,” he said.
The sector commander advised road users to cooperate with FRSC personnel in 2025 towards ensuring safety of lives and property of road users in the state.
The death toll from the Dikko tanker explosion has risen to 98, according to the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA).
The Director-General, NSEMA, Alhaji Abdullahi Baba-Arah, confirmed the updated figure in a statement issued on Monday in Minna.
Baba-Arah also said that 69 people were injured in the explosion, while 20 shops were burnt.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the tanker explosion occurred on Saturday morning at about 9 a. m., along the Dikko-Maje road opposite Baddegi fuelling station in Gurara Local Government Area.
The incident occurred when a tanker loaded with Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) crashed, and an attempt was made to transfer its contents to another tanker.
In the process, the PMS came into contact with a generator used to power the transfer process, triggering an explosion that claimed many, injured many, and destroyed properties worth millions of naira.
NAN reports that the incident had sparked widespread condemnation and sympathy from various quarters.
The Niger and Federal government had commiserated with the families of the victims and promised to provide support to those affected.
The state government had also called on the Federal Government to expedite action on the Minna-Suleja road project, which had been blamed for the frequent accidents in the area.
The Jigawa State Pilgrims Welfare Board says it has secured a befitting accommodation for its intending pilgrims ahead of the 2025 Hajj exercise in Saudi Arabia.
This is contained in a statement by the Spokesman to the board, Malam Habibu Yusuf, on Monday in Dutse.
He said the board has successfully secured a befitting hotel accommodation, a walking distance of about 800 meters to the Holy Mosque in Makkah.
“This achievement is a testament to the board’s commitment of ensuring a seamless and enriching Hajj experience for Jigawa state pilgrims,” he said.
The statement quoted the Director-General of the board, Alhaji Ahmad Labbo, as urging the intenting pilgrims to ensure prompt deposit of the Hajj fare.
Labbo underscored the importance of early payment to facilitate proper planning of logistics for the pilgrimage.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the board fixed Jan. 30, registration deadline of intending pilgrims for the 2025 Hajj exercise.
This is in line with directives of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) for the state pilgrim’s welfare boards to remit all collections by Feb. 1.
NAHCON has allocated 1,518 seats to the state for 2025 Hajj, while the board had directed intending pilgrims from the state to pay N8.4 million Hajj fare.
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FRSC records 108 deaths in 328 RTCs in Gombe
Death toll in Diko tanker explosion now 98 -NSEMA
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