Nigeria’s biggest city has imposed new coronavirus laws that carry strict penalties, including fines and imprisonment for violations.
International passengers who provide misleading information or break protocols may be jailed for a year or pay fines.
Under the new laws, the Lagos state governor can “quarantine anyone he deems fit and for any period of time, sanction erring individuals with fines of up to 500,000 naira (R16,727) or imprisonment of up to five years”, the state health commissioner, Akin Abayomi, said.
International passengers who provide misleading information or break protocols may be jailed for a year or pay fines, the commissioner said. People travelling from India, Brazil and Turkey who refuse to isolate will have their passports deactivated for at least a year. Foreign citizens may be deported.
The state has vaccinated 318,916 people with a first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine, with a goal to inoculate 14 million. Nigeria’s commercial capital carried out about half a million Covid-19 tests and has recorded 356 deaths and 274 active cases up to Friday.
— Bloomberg News. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.