The Federal Government has lifted
the ban placed on flights coming into the country from India.
The government had banned
passengers, who visited India, Brazil, South Africa, and Turkey in the last 14
days from entering the country as part of precautionary measures to contain the
virus in the country.
But in the new travel protocol
released on Sunday, the Chairman, Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19,
Boss Mustapha, indicated that the ban placed on passengers from India has been
lifted.
The reviewed protocol took effect from September 14, 2021.
However, the sanctions placed on
airlines that convey passengers from restricted countries and travellers who
are Non-Nigerians remain.
Mustapha said, “Non-Nigerian
passport holders and non-residents who visited Brazil, Turkey or South Africa
within 14 days preceding travel to Nigeria, shall be denied entry into Nigeria.
This regulation, however, does not apply to passengers who transited through
these countries.
“Airlines who fail to comply
shall mandatorily pay a penalty of $3,500 defaulting passenger; and
non-Nigerians will be denied entry and returned to the country of embarkation
at cost to the Airline; Nigerians and those with a permanent resident permit
who visited Brazil, Turkey, and South Africa within 14 days preceding travel to
Nigeria shall be made to undergo seven days of mandatory quarantine in a
Government approved facility at the point-of-entry city and at cost to the
passenger.
“The following conditions shall
apply to such passengers: Within 24 hours of arrival shall take a COVID-19 PCR
test;
ii. If Positive, the passenger
shall be admitted within a government-approved treatment centre, in line with
national treatment protocols; and
iii. If Negative, the Passenger
shall continue to remain in quarantine and made to undergo a repeat PCR test on
Day-7 of their quarantine.
“False declaration: passenger(s)
who provided false or misleading contact information will be liable to
prosecution; and person(s) who willfully disregard or refuse to comply with
directions of Port-Health staff, security agencies or evade quarantine shall be
prosecuted in accordance with the law
“This protocol comes into effect
from 14th September 2021.”
He said before departure from
exit country, passengers must perform a COVID-19 PCR test not more than three
days before boarding, adding that the PCR tests done more than 72 hours before
departure are not valid and persons will not be allowed to board.
The PSC chairman stressed that
airlines have been directed not to board passengers with non-PCR COVID-19 tests
(such as antigen/or antibody tests), a positive COVID-19 PCR test result, or
tests performed beyond 72 hours of boarding.
He added, “Airlines that board
passengers without any of the TWO documents (a negative COVID-19 PCR test done
not more than 72 hours prior to boarding and a Permit to Travel Certificate/QR
code), shall be sanctioned as follows: passengers, who are Non-Nigerians, will
be refused entry and returned to the point of embarkation at a cost to the
airline;
“Passengers who are Nigerians or
holders of a permanent resident permit will be allowed entry but subjected to
the procedure outlined in Section D.
“In addition, passengers arriving
with forged (fake) COVID-19 PCR results shall be referred for prosecution;
airlines shall be fined $3,500 per passenger.”
He said all passengers arriving
in Nigeria will be required to go through the routine Port Health screening and
present electronic or print-out evidence of pre-boarding COVID-19 PCR test and
the Permit to Travel Certificate/QR Code as well as Present their international
passports for clearance through the Nigerian Immigration Service System’s
Migrants Identification Data Analysis System.
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