The Federal Government has hinted at possibly making COVID-19 vaccination a prerequisite for all international passengers.
Giving this hint in a statement on Saturday, the Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Mr Boss Mustapha, said that some countries have already commenced restrictions for receiving visitors.
Mustapha, who spoke in Abuja at an event where President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo received their first doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine said: “I think vaccine hesitancy would have to give way to reality.”
He continued, “Because the truth about it, Your Excellency, is that very soon, nobody will be able to travel the world unless you produce the certificate that we have been given.
“I have not confirmed but reliably, some countries have started putting restrictions on receiving visitors, even exercising activities of their faith without a COVID-19 vaccination.
“So, the word that is going out there, on behalf of Mr. President, is that Nigerians should make themselves available, those that are eligible in the first set of the deployment, because the deployment is going to be in four phases, to receive these vaccines.
“They have been tested. Our most strategic leadership has received them this morning. They are safe, efficacious and it is for the good and well-being of our people.”