The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has given out protocol for all passengers originating from United Kingdom (UK) and South Africa effective from December 28.
The NCAA Director-General, Mr Musa Nuhu, issued the protocol in a letter to all Nigerian operators and foreign operators flying into Nigeria with a reference NCC/DG/AIR/11/16/286 on Sunday in Abuja.
According to Nuhu, the move affected all airlines with passengers originated from the United Kingdom and South Africa regardless of transit arrangements.
He said Federal Government, through Presidential Task Force, had reviewed quarantine protocol due to recent spike in cases of COVID-19 in Nigeria and reported highly transmissible new variant of virus in United Kingdom and South Africa.
“For the two countries, passengers must present the following documents in order to be allowed to board their flight 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 (4 days) of boarding from a verifiable laboratory or health facility, “ he said.
He said passengers would be received and processed separately by Public Health Authority on arrival in Nigeria.
He further said that all passengers would be required to self-isolate for seven days after arrival followed by a COVID-19 PCR test.
He stated that a dedicated register of arriving passengers from the United Kingdom and South Africa would be opened for enhanced surveillance and active enforcement of the protocols.
“This shall be applicable to scheduled and non-scheduled flights conveying passengers originating from United Kingdom and South Africa.
“The earlier quarantine protocol which became effective on September 18, 2020 shall continue to subsist for flight originating from other countries except for the validity of the Pre-departure PCR test result which now be 96 hours (4 days) from date of departure.
“ The effective date is Monday December 28, 2020 Local Time (2301UTC), “ he said.
The director general said punitive measure would be taken against who would fail to comply with the content of the letter.
According to him, airlines which fail to comply will be fined $3,500.
“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, “ he said.
