THE Federal Government (FG) has announced December 1 as the deadline for civil servants to take the COVID-19 vaccine.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, disclosed this during a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday.
Mustapha said workers who failed to take the vaccine would be expected to provide a negative result of a COVID-19 test carried out within 72 hours.
“With effect from 1st December 2021, Federal Government employees shall be required to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination or present a negative COVID-19 PCR test result done within 72 hours to gain access to their offices in all locations within Nigeria and our Missions.
The SGF also noted that restrictions placed on travellers from South Africa, Brazil, and Turkey due to the pandemic, have been relaxed, adding that the United Kingdom (UK) had similarly eased restrictions on vaccinated Nigerians travelling to the UK.
“Nigeria welcomes this development and assures that the PSC shall continue to review Nigeria’s protocols based on global developments, science and national experience. A revised protocol will be issued in the next 24 hours,” he said.
Speaking on the upcoming Christmas and Sallah festivities, he urged Nigerians to remain conscious of the spread of COVID-19 throughout the celebrations.
“The PSC wishes to put Nigerians on notice that two major religious festivities (Salah and Christmas) are approaching, and we shall be experiencing increased passenger traffic in and out of the country.
“Similarly, events of large gatherings are likely to hold. While the PSC prepares to escalate surveillance and other control activities, we urge the States and all Nigerians also to increase their vigilance and take measures to moderate activities,” he said.
Ijeoma Opara is a journalist with The ICIR. Reach her via [email protected] or @ije_le on Twitter.