The Presidential Steering Committee (PSC) on COVID-19 has issued a new international travel guideline.
This new guideline cancels the mandatory PCR testing for fully vaccinated visitors and stiff penalties for unvaccinated travellers violating the new rules.
The guideline, which takes effect from Monday, April 4, 2022, also prescribed sanctions for airlines that board violators of the new rules.
All these are according to the ‘Provisional Travel Protocol for Travelers Arriving Nigeria’ issued late Saturday by the Chairman of the PSC and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Boss Mustapha.
“This protocol is a revision of the Travel Protocol released on 29th November 2021 Interim Travel Guidelines for Passengers arriving in Nigeria.
“In-bound passengers to Nigeria who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 are no longer required to carry out COVID-19 PCR test before boarding Nigeria-bound flights.
“Fully vaccinated passengers arriving Nigeria will not also be required to carry out Post arrival PCR test or a Rapid Antigen Test upon arriving Nigeria.
“Children below the age of 18 years will be accorded the same privileges as persons who are fully vaccinated;
“In-bound Passengers who are unvaccinated or partially vaccinated for COVID-19 shall take a COVID-19 PCR test 48 hrs before departure and undergo Days 2 and 7 post-arrival PCR tests at their own cost; and
“All in-bound passengers MUST register via the online Nigeria International Travel Portal (NITP– https://nitp.ncdc.gov.ng)”, it said.
Whereas, for outbound travellers, the guideline prescribed “all passengers travelling out of Nigeria are:
“Encouraged to have evidence of full vaccination against COVID-19;
“Comply with the COVID-19 guidelines of their destination or transit countries; and
“To familiarise themselves with the COVID-19 travel requirements of their destination and transit countries before embarking on the journey.”
