FG Releases Fresh COVID-19 Guidelines For Incoming Travellers

The federal government of Nigeria has directed that travellers into Nigeria must possess a negative covid-19 test result done not more than four days before boarding their flight into the country.

Also, on arrival in Nigeria, travellers are expected to self-isolate for seven days, during which they are expected “to avoid physical interaction with friends, family, colleagues, and other members of the public.”

These directives are part of fresh guidelines approved and made public by the presidential task force on COVID-19 in a statement signed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha who is also the Chairman on the task force.

The new measures are part of measures by the federal government to prevent imported cases and limit further spread of the coronavirus disease in Nigeria, Naija News reports.

As part of requirements in the protocol which come into effect from Monday, 11th January, 2021, “travellers must also ensure to register via an online national travel portal (Nigeria International Travel Portal – https://nitp.ncdc.gov.ng), where they are required to fill a questionnaire and pay for a second COVID-19 test to be carried out seven days after arriving in Nigeria.

Non-Nigerian travellers who flout any of the protocols will be refused entry into the country and returned to “the point of embarkation at a cost to the airline.”

Nigerians and holders of a permanent residence permit who do not comply will be subjected to “a mandatory quarantine of 8-14 days (depending on results of COVID-19 PCR test done from Day-7 of arrival) at a facility approved by the government and at a cost to the passenger(s)/airline.”

On arrival in Nigeria, travellers are expected to self-isolate for seven days, during which they are expected “to avoid physical interaction with friends, family, colleagues, and other members of the public.”