PTF: Some travellers present fake documents for COVID-19 tests

Boss Mustapha, chairman of the presidential task force on COVID-19, says some international travellers present fake documents for COVID-19 tests.

Speaking during the weekly media briefing on Monday, Mustapha said many travellers who paid for post-arrival COVID-19 test have refused to show up to take the test.

He said as of November 9, the total number of bookings was 91,522; total number of passengers exempted, 5,470 (6%); children, 1,248 (1.36 percent); diplomats, 3,392 (3.7 percent); and evacuees, 830 (0.9 percent), while those that have arrived in the country and have not paid for the test are 39,000.

“The PTF has been evaluating the compliance of Nigerians with the protocols for testing by in-bound and out-bound travellers. It has been discovered that some of these travellers have indulged in presenting fake documents,” he said.

“Some that have paid for post-arrival testing have failed to show up for the tests. Statistics show the following as at 9/11/2020: Total No of bookings: 91,522. Total No of passengers exempted: 5,470 (6%).

“Children: 1,248 (1.36%). Diplomats: 3,392 (3.7%). Evacuees: 830 (0.9%). Total Passengers expected to Pay: 86,052(94%), Paid: 46,982 (54.6%), Not Paid: 39,070(45.45%).

“Travellers that have arrived in-country but have not paid (approximately 39,000).

“Amount paid to private labs by passengers, who have refused to take the post-arrival seven-day test: NGN220 – N270 million.”

He said the presidential taskforce making plans to work with relevant institutions and legal authorities to impose appropriate sanctions on those that default on the protocol.

The PTF chairman had asked Nigerians not to travel during the festive season to limit the spread of the infection.

Mustapha said such trips should be suspended because the transmission rate of the virus has become “astronomical”.