Nigeria on Wednesday issued a travel ban on citizens from 13 countries worst-hit by coronavirus. The announcement came as authorities confirmed five new virus cases, bringing to eight the number so far tested positive in Africa’s most populous nation of 200 million people.
The government said on Twitter it “is restricting entry into the country for travellers from… China, Italy, Iran, South Korea, Spain, Japan, France, Germany, Norway, US, the United Kingdom, Netherlands and Switzerland. These are all countries with over 1,000 cases domestically.
Nigeria said issuance of visas would be suspended to nationals of these nations, and Nigerians arriving from these countries would be quarantined for 14 days. It also advised Nigerians to avoid travelling to the affected countries.
It said the restrictions would come into effect from Saturday and could be reviewed after a month. The central bank announced further measures to bolster the country’s economy, which is heavily dependent on oil exports, as the price of oil plummeted over fears the virus could lead to a global recession.
Nigeria has also banned government officials from travelling out of the country until further notice. The government has suspended a major national sports event, advised against public gatherings and stressed the need for public hygiene to reduce the risk of spreading the disease.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had already approved a $135-million fund to support businesses hit by impacts of the virus. In addition, the bank said it would give double that amount to the country’s health authorities, “to ensure laboratories, researchers and innovators work with global scientists to patent and or produce vaccines and test kits in Nigeria.”
“Given the continuing impact of the disease on global supply chains,” the bank said, it would also release one trillion naira ($2.7 billion) to help boost “all critical sectors of the economy”. The petroleum ministry said President Muhammadu Buhari had approved reducing prices at petrol pumps. Coronavirus Hotline Number: 0800 029 999 from 8am to 4pm, Monday to Friday Help protect your loved ones by sharing this official South African government COVID-19 service with your family, friends and community.
Send HI to 0600 123 456 on WhatsApp. The NICD has another Clinician Hotline to improve #COVID19 communication and support for healthcare providers. The Clinician Hotline is 0800 11 1131, operating 24 hrs. The Public Hotline is 0800 029 999 also operating 24hrs.
In other news – Rapist Kwaito star Brickz struggling in Prison
As a father, you would wish to try all your best to be part of your children’s life no matter under what difficult circumstances. Disgraced kwaito star and rape convict Brickz’s family has requested his wife Nqobile Ndlovu to release his two children to visit him in prison on alternate weekends.
Sunday World can reveal that on December 28 last year, members of the Ndlovu family went to Newcastle, Kwazulu-natal, to plead with Nqobile to allow the children to visit their father, Brickz, real name Sipho Ndlovu, in prison. Read more
Source: eNCA
