Islamic Group, Muslim Rights Concern, MURIC has called on the Government to ban flights from coming and going out of Nigeria because of the possibility of a COVID-19 second wave.
The group made this call on Wednesday via a press statement released by it’s Director, Prof. Ishaq Akintola.
MURIC urged the Presidency to make this urgent restriction over increasing COVID-19 cases in the United States, France, Britain.
It said that the country should learn from the first wave of COVID-19 that came into the country from Italy.
“We recall that the first index case of COVID-19 in Nigeria which was reported on 27th February, 2020 came in from Italy,” MURIC said.
“A second case was reported within two weeks of the first in Ewekoro, Ogun State on 9th March, 2020. All hell broke loose soon after and the country came under lockdown for about three months with dire consequences. The current economic recession is one of the fallouts.
“Nigeria should not allow a return of the deadly pandemic. In view of the increase in its spread in the United States, France, Britain, etc, the Federal Government (FG) should act now before it is too late. International passengers troop into the country on a daily basis and there has been no report of quarantines. All passengers have been allowed to come into the country. We believe this is not good enough.
“MURIC, therefore, calls on FG to immediately put restrictions on passengers and crews on international flights. This may be in form of COVID-19 protocols like isolation and quarantine where necessary.”
MURIC’s warning comes days after the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 urged Nigerians to be cautious of the virus as they spend the festive season.
The PTF urged churches to observe the advised COVID-19 preventive measures in order to prevent a second wave of the virus.
Nigeria presently has 67,960 recorded cases of COVID-19.
