FG To Nigerians: Don't Travel For Christmas, Stay Away From Christmas Carols

Boss Mustapha during a PTF on COVID-19 briefing

Nigerians have been advised by the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 to stay away from festivities such as carols during the forthcoming Christmas season.

The PTF also warned against non-essential travels, especially by Nigerians who wish to come home from abroad, saying that such could be dangerous as the travellers could infect the elderly back home with the coronavirus disease.


It added that travellers from abroad could be stranded if the government makes a u-turn on existing travelling laws in the country.


The PTF through its Chairman, Boss Mustapha; the national coordinator, Sani Aliyu; the Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire; and the Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Chikwe Ihekweazu, made these known during the weekly briefing by the task force in Abuja, Monday.

Mustapha said, “We shall continue to remind Nigerians that all non-essential trips should be put off this December. This is for your safety and good health.”


He added that the PTF is already working on the strategy for gaining access to the COVID-19 vaccine as soon as they are made available, and also said that Nigerians should continue to comply with the non-pharmaceutical interventions as the vaccine is being awaited.

Mustapha also mentioned the National Sports Festival set to hold in Benin City, the Edo State capital, saying that discussions have been held about the safety measures.



The SGF, who noted that the global number of COVID-19 infections crossed 63 million on Sunday, 29th November, 2020, added that Nigeria ranked 5th for both the highest cumulative cases and deaths in Africa.

On his part, Aliyu advised Nigerians in Diaspora not to travel home for Christmas and New Year, and to celebrate them wherever they are.



“Please, for this period, if your travel is not essential, stay where you are. We are actively discouraging Nigerians abroad from coming home this Christmas because of COVID-19 and the number of infections we have outside the country.

“So, the message is; if you do not want to get stranded, if you do not want to bring COVID-19 to your elderly relatives in Nigeria, please stay where you are. There will be other holidays,” he said.


In his address, NCDC Boss, Ihekweazu warned against attending Christmas carols and other gatherings during the festive period.

“This is really to re-emphasise the call by the PTF that many of the traditional meetings that we engage in at this time of the year, whether they are Christmas carols or festivals, trips, family gatherings, each of those could end up being a super spreader event. So, we must take this into consideration as we make our choices,” he said.