New COVID-19 Strain: FG Releases Fresh Directives To Travellers From UK, S/Africa

The Federal Government has issued fresh directives to airlines and passengers coming into Nigeria from the United Kingdom and South Africa.

CityNews Nigeria reports that the directive was made in a bid to contain a fast-spreading new strain of COVID-19 recorded in the two countries.

The directive was contained in a circular titled, ‘Protocol For All Passengers Originating From United Kingdom And South Africa’, issued on Saturday and signed by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) Director-General, Capt Musa Nuhu.

He warned that non-Nigerian passengers who fail to comply with the new COVID-19 protocol would be returned to the UK and South Africa upon arrival in Nigeria.

According to NaijaNews,the NCAA DG also warned airlines operating flights between Nigeria and the two countries to ensure all passengers comply with the fresh directive or face sanctions.

It partly read, “Airlines shall be fined $3,500 (Three Thousand Five dollars) for each defaulting passenger.

“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.”