The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority has issued new COVID-19 guidelines for passengers originating from the UK and South Africa.
The new protocols are contained in a circular addressed to all airlines and signed by the NCAA Director-General, Capt Musa Nuhu, on December 26.
The circular titled ‘Protocol for all passengers originating from the United Kingdom and South Africa,’ referenced NCC/DG/AIR/11/16/286 demands that passengers flying from both countries must present a pre-departure permit to fly/ QR Code and a negative COVID-19 PCR test result done within 96 hours of boarding.
Nuhu, who stated that the Federal Government, through the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, reviewed quarantine protocol due to the recent spike in cases of COVID-19 in Nigeria and reported a highly transmissible new variant of virus in the United Kingdom and South Africa, said airlines would be fined $3,500 for each passenger that refuses to adhere to the new travel protocols announced by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19.
The circular read in part, “For the two counties (UK and South Africa) passengers must present the following two documents 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 (four days) of boarding from a verifiable laboratory or health facility.
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“On arrival in Nigeria, passengers will be received and processed separately by public health authorities.
“All passengers will be required to self-isolate for seven days after arrival followed by a COVID-19 PCR test.”
The NCAA boss stressed that any airline flouting the new rules would have its permit or approval to fly into Nigeria suspended.
He added that passengers originating from the UK and South Africa would be received and processed separately by public health authorities.
The new guidelines which the agency stated would apply to both scheduled and non-scheduled passengers from the two countries takes effect from Monday, December 28, 2020.
According to the agency, a dedicated list of passengers from both countries will soon be opened to ensure greater surveillance and enforcement of the protocols.
