The new pre-boarding COVID test requirement placed on
Nigerian travellers by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the Netherlands may
lead to the suspension of flights to those countries.
Under the new requirement, travellers are to do a rapid test
at the airports in Lagos and Abuja four hours to their outbound flights.
Musa Nuhu, the director-general of the Nigerian Civil
Aviation Authority (NCAA), complained about the “extra requirement” at the
briefing by the presidential task force (PTF) on COVID-19 on Monday.
“They are adding an extra requirement of having a rapid test done four hours before departure or before you board,” he said.
“For us, passengers do the test 72 hours before departure.
The PTF recognises the rights of all countries to put in measures to protect
their citizens just like Nigeria has done.
“If they insist on having these additional tests done, then
PTF has decided that their operations will be suspended into Nigeria.”
He said these countries and airlines “cannot determine for
Nigeria who to approve or how these tests will be done”.
Nuhu said the government will hold discussions with the
airlines and countries involved.
This will enable the PTF to have a clear and transparent
process on determining who will do these tests “based on the requirement for
accreditation by NCDC, National Laboratory Council, Lagos state government for
Lagos airport and FCT for Abuja airport”.
It is now being probed by the federal government.
There have been reports of Nigerians testing positive on
arrival in other countries despite carrying COVID-negative certificates.
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