The Federal Government (FG) has issued a new international travel guideline on COVID-19 which would take effect from Monday, April 4, 2022. This was disclosed on Sunday by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and Chairman of the Presidential Steering Committee (PSC) on COVID-19, Mr Boss Mustapha. He said, “This protocol is a revision of the Travel Protocol released on 29th November 2021 Interim Travel Guidelines for Passengers arriving in Nigeria. In-bound passengers to Nigeria, who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, are no longer required to carry out COVID-19 PCR test before boarding Nigeria-bound flights.
“Fully vaccinated passengers arriving Nigeria will not also be required to carry out post-arrival PCR test or a Rapid Antigen Test upon arrival in Nigeria.
“In-bound passengers who are unvaccinated or partially-vaccinated for COVID-19 shall take a COVID-19 PCR test 48 hours before departure and undergo Days 2 and 7 post-arrival PCR tests at their own cost.”
The revised travel guideline stated that all children below the age of 18 years will be given the same privileges as persons who are fully vaccinated and that all in-bound passengers must register on the Nigeria International Travel Portal (NITP) via https://nitp.ncdc.gov.ng.
According to the protocol, outbound passengers are advised to “have evidence of full vaccination against COVID-19, comply with the COVID-19 guidelines of their destination or transit countries and familiarise themselves with the COVID-19 travel requirements of their destination and transit countries before embarking on the journey.”
Mustapha said airlines involved in boarding violators of the revised guideline would be fined $3,500 for each violator, amongst other sanctions.
He said, “Airlines that board travellers without the appropriate required documents; vaccine certificate, a negative COVID-19 PCR test done not more than 48 hours prior to boarding and a Paid Permit to Travel/QR Code (as may be applicable to passengers, shall be sanctioned as follows:
“Travellers who are non-Nigerians will be refused entry into Nigeria and returned to the point of embarkation at the cost to the airline; travellers who are Nigerians or holders of a permanent residence permit will be allowed entry but subjected to the procedure outlined in section D of the guideline.
“In addition, travellers arriving with forged (fake) vaccine certificates or COVID-19 PCR results shall be prosecuted and required to carry out PCR tests on arrival, on days 2 and 7.”
The revised guidelines stated that airlines would be fined $3,500 per passenger for failing to comply with any of the pre-boarding requirements.
According to the travel guideline, “Airlines who consistently fail to comply with the requirements may be banned from coming to Nigeria; and at the time of boarding, travellers will be required to undergo temperature screening and asked about COVID-19 symptoms.
“Travellers with temperature 38°C and other COVID-19 related signs and symptoms shall not be allowed to board the flight.”
