FG Issues Revised Travel Protocol, Slams $3,500 Per Passenger Fine On Defaulting Airlines

The Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 has issued a revised provisional quarantine protocol for travellers arriving and departing Nigeria which became effective December 5, 2021.

The All Operators letter according to the committee was to convey to all airlines operating international flights into and out of Nigeria the revised provisional quarantine protocol for travellers arriving and departing Nigeria as issued by the presidential steering committee.

According to the circular, personally signed by the Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Captain Musa Nuhu, airlines are to only board passengers travelling to Nigeria who are in possession of a paid permit to travel with a QR code and result of a negative COVID-19 PCR test done not later than 48 hours from time of boarding.

It stated that “For any inbound passenger who is unable to either make payment for his/her repeat PCR tests or generate a paid permit to travel via Nigerian international travel portal, airlines are to send email to [email protected] and only copy [email protected], icy servicedesk @ncdc.gov.ng, [email protected] for necessary assistance.”

Equally for outbound passengers, “airlines can only board travelling out of Nigeria with evidence of either full vaccination for COVID-19 or result of negative COVID-19 PCR test done at Nigeria Center for Disease Control accredited private laboratories not later than 48 hours from time of boarding.
“Non-compliance to these boarding requirements by any airline will attract a penalty of $3,500 per passenger while airlines which consistently fail to comply with these requirements may be banned from coming to Nigeria.