SAYS AIRLINES SHALL BE FINED USD $3,500 PER TRAVELER FOR FAILURE TO COMPLY
The Covid 19 protocols proposed in November 29, 2021, during the heat of the deadly virus as guidelines for passengers arriving the country has been revised by the Federal Government.
The revised order said airlines, who failed to comply with the new protocol shall be fined USD 3,500 per traveler.
Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Chairman, Presidential Steering Committee on COVID, Boss Mustapha, said the new protocol takes effect on Monday and would be reviewed after four weeks.
“This protocol is a revision of the Travel Protocol released on 29th November, 2021 Interim Travel Guidelines for Passengers arriving in Nigeria”, Mustapha said.
According to the statement 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.
He stated that fully vaccinated passengers arriving Nigeria will not also be required to carry out Post arrival PCR test or a Rapid Antigen Test upon arriving Nigeria.
The revised protocol further stated that children below the ages of 18 years, would be accorded the same privileges as persons who are fully vaccinated while 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 2-7 days, post-arrival PCR tests at their own cost.
According to the revised protocol, all in-bound passengers must, register through the online Nigeria International travel portal (NITP https://nitp.ncdc.gov.ng).
Mustapha said out-Bound Guidelines for all the passengers traveling out of Nigeria are expected to be encouraged to have evidence of full vaccination against COVID-19 and must comply with the COVID-19 guidelines of their destination or transit countries.
He added that they must familiarize themselves with the COVID-19 travel requirements of their destination and transit countries before embarking on the journey.
According to the Federal Government, passengers with evidence of full vaccination, the requirement is waved for passengers who are fully vaccinated.
But it further said that the passengers who are not able to show evidence of full vaccination will be treated as unvaccinated and partially vaccinated under the revised protocol.
Full Vaccination for COVID-19 refers to a person who receive doses any of the following COVID-19 vaccines at least Two (2), weeks before date of Travel: Pfizer/ Bio-Ntech, Moderna, Oxford Astra-Zeneca,
Sputnik, Sinopharm, Sinovac, COVAXIN, COVOVAX, Nuvaxovid or single dose of any of the following COVID-19 vaccines:
Jensen (Johnson and Johnson) and Sputnik Light.
It was stated that persons who received a single dose of these vaccines are considered not fully vaccinated.
It was further said that passengers who do not have evidence of full vaccination must perform a COVID-19 PCR test not more than 2 days (48 hours) before boarding.
“PCR tests done more than 48 hours before departure is not valid and persons will not be allowed to board. Rapid antigen or antibody test are not acceptable; only PCR tests can be used for this purpose. Test validity commences from the time of sample collection.
“For travelers with multiple connections before arrival in Nigeria, the PCR test must be valid within 48 hours of boarding from the first point of departure. Travelers must bring along an electronic or hard copy of their negative COVID-19 PCR test for presentation at the departure airport and upon arrival in Nigeria.” The statement reads.
Boss Mustapha said before boarding for Nigeria, travelers must present two documents at their point of departure
to be allowed to board and for fully vaccinated passengers, a verifiable full vaccination certificate with a valid security mark will be permited to travel, with certificate/QR Code.
He stated that for unvaccinated or partially vaccinated passengers, a negative COVID-19 PCR test done within 2 days (48 hours), must be presented before departure.
“Airlines have been instructed not to board travelers with non-PCR COVID-19 tests (such as antigen or antibody tests), a positive COVID-19 PCR test result, or tests done beyond 48 hours of boarding; and
b. APaidpermittoTravelCertificate/QRcode-PassengerswhofailtoshowaPaid Permit to Travel Certificate/QR Code will not be allowed to board…
He explained that travelers, who are non-Nigerians, would be refused entry into Nigeria and returned to the point of embarkation at cost to the airline.
According to him, travelers who are Nigerians or holders of permanent resident permit would be allowed entry, but subjected to the procedure outlined in Section D below.
” In addition, travelers arriving with forged (fake) vaccine certificate or COVID-19 PCR results shall be prosecuted and required to carry out PCR tests on arrival, on days 2 and 7.
” Airlines shall be fined USD 3,500 per traveler for failure to comply with any of the above mentioned pre-boarding requirements
“Airlines who consistently fail to comply with the above requirements may be banned from coming to Nigeria; and at the time of boarding, travelers will be required to undergo temperature screening and asked about COVID-19 symptoms”. The statement said.
