By Uzor Odigbo
Determined to prevent the spread of the dreaded coronavirus, Port Health Services has issued a 48–hour notice to all shipping line agencies on vessel movement and crew before calling at the nation’s seaports.
It was gathered that the health officials have also written to all sister agencies and relevant authorities within the port city to embrace safety measures against the backdrop of the virus spread.
The notice which used to be a 24-hour alert was extended to 48 hours, as part of measures to screen seafarers aboard in order to ascertain their body temperature.
Port Health officials are the first set of government agencies to board vessel upon arrival at Nigerian seaports, followed by immigration then customs.