The Federal Government has issued fresh protocol for airlines and passengers coming into Nigeria from the United Kingdom and South Africa.
According to a circular dated December 26, 2020, and signed by Director-General of Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Capt Musa Nuhu, the move was to reduce a fast-spreading strain of COVID-19 recorded in both countries.
The aviation authority said non-Nigerian passengers who refuse to comply with the new protocol would be immediately returned to the UK and South Africa upon arrival in Nigeria.
Nuhu directed all indigenous and foreign airlines operating flights between Nigeria and the two countries to ensure all passengers comply with the fresh directives.
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The circular reads,
“Passengers must present the following two documents in order to be allowed to board their flights to Nigeria:
“Pre-departure Permit To Fly/QR code generated from the Nigeria International Travel Portal (https://nitp.ncdc.gov.ng) showing evidence of payment for the post-arrival day 7 Covid-19 PCR test and;
“Documentary evidence of a negative Covid-19 PCR result done within 96 hours (4 days) of boarding from a verifiable laboratory or health facility.
“On arrival in Nigeria, passengers will be received and processed separately by Public Health authorities.
“All passengers will be required to self-isolate for 7 days after arrival followed by a Covid-19 PCR test.
“Passengers with a post-arrival negative Covid-19 PCR result can exit isolation at day 8. Those with a positive Covid-19 PCR result will be referred for isolation and further management.
“A dedicated register of arriving passengers from the United Kingdom and South Africa will be opened for enhanced surveillance and active enforcement of the protocol.”
The NCAA DG said extreme measures would be taken against non-complying airlines.
“Airlines shall be fined $3,500 (Three Thousand Five dollars) for each defaulting passenger,” he said.
“Airlines may be required to return non-Nigerian defaulting passengers to point of embarkation.
“Repeated non-compliance by any Airline will lead to the suspension of the Airline’s Approval/Permit to Fly into the country.”
Nuhu said the new protocol is effective from 12:01am on Monday, December 28, 2020.
Several countries have suspended travel from Britain in a bid to contain the new strain of COVID-19.
© ControlTV 2020.
