Posted on Jan 30, 2020
• Operators, airport authority increase surveillance
• U.S. Japan, S’ Korea, others evacuate citizens from China
• ‘Why Nigeria won’t close borders to returning Chinese nationals’
Aviation regulatory agencies yesterday stepped up surveillance across operating airlines and international airports nationwide in a bid to contain any case of the Coronavirus pandemic.The Federal Government went further to urge Nigerians nursing travel plans to China to jettison them now until further notice, except under an extremely essential circumstance.
The government also advised all persons arriving from China or any country that has a major disease outbreak to self-isolate by staying indoors in their homes for at least two weeks.The government’s position was made known after the resumed Federal Executive Council Council (FEC) meeting. Earlier, the Federal Government assured Nigerians of its readiness to strengthen surveillance at five international airports in the country to prevent the spread of Coronavirus.
The five international airports are in Enugu, Lagos, Rivers, Kano and the FCT.Addressing State House correspondents after nine hours of council deliberations presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari, the Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire urged Nigerians to delay their travel plans to that China until all issues relating to the outbreak of the Coronavirus are adequately addressed.
The regulatory body, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), subsequently put all airline operators, Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSP) and Aerodrome Operators on the alert.
The Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) also intensified primary screening of all arriving passengers at international airports in Lagos and Abuja. Passengers with basic signs are referred to secondary screening, to ensure that the highly contagious disease is not let into the country.Yesterday, the United States evacuated 201 Americans from Wuhan, the epicentre of the Coronavirus outbreak in China. The passengers, including diplomats and businesspeople, underwent medical screening at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, local authorities said.
Other countries that have evacuated or plan to evacuate their citizens from Wuhan include France, South Korea, Japan, Morocco, Germany, Kazakhstan, Britain, Canada, Russia, the Netherlands, Myanmar and Australia. NCAA Acting Director General Capt. Sidi Abdullahi, in a letter to service providers, called for a high level of vigilance by airlines, especially those operating international and regional flights, all designated point of entries (POEs), and the travelling public.
In the letter, the NCAA mandated Pilots in Command (PIC) of aircraft to report to the Air Traffic Control (ATC) any suspected cases of communicable disease on board an aircraft in line with Nigerian Civil Regulation Rules (Nig. CARs).
“Where there is a suspected case of communicable disease on board an aircraft, the aircrew is to fill the aircraft General Declaration (Gen Dec) in line with Nig. CARs 18.8.17.4 and Annex 8 of International Health Regulations (IHR 2005). A completed aircraft General Declaration is to be submitted to the Port Health Services (PHS) on arrival at the designated point of entry.
“Sick passengers on board an aircraft would be required to fill a Passenger Locator form in line with Nig.CARs 18.8.22.5. The completed Passenger Locator Forms are to be submitted to Port Health Services (PHS) on arrival at the designated point of entry.