Passengers who refuse to take the COVID-19 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test face travel restrictions from the federal government.
Boss Mustapha, Chairman of the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, announced the limitations in a statement on Sunday, noting that they took effect on September 14.
Passengers arriving in Nigeria must undergo normal port health screening and provide electronic or print-out proof of a pre-boarding COVID-19 PCR test as well as the Permit to Travel Certificate/QR Code.
Passengers must then show their international passports for clearance through the Nigeria Immigration Service System's Migrants Identification Data Analysis System (MIDAS) and travel to their chosen in-country location for a mandated seven-day self-isolation/quarantine.
“Passengers who fail to appear for this exam will have their passports restricted for at least six months and will be unable to travel abroad during that time. The visas of non-Nigerian passport holders would be cancelled, according to the SGF.
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Passengers should avoid making personal contact with friends, relatives, coworkers, and other members of the public. Passengers should check their emails/text messages on a frequent basis for information on the scheduling of their repeat COVID-19 PCR test at their preferred laboratory.
“The COVID-19 Response team may call the passenger during this time to determine [the] condition of isolation, day-7 testing appointment, and health status.”
The SGF also stated that the government has lifted the restriction on planes from India entering the nation.
The Federal Government has barred travellers from entering the nation who had visited India, Brazil, South Africa, or Turkey in the previous 14 days as a preventative measure to combat COVID-19 in the country.
However, the penalties imposed on airlines that transport passengers from prohibited nations and non-Nigerians remain in place.
“Non-Nigerian passport holders and non-residents who visited Brazil, Turkey, or South Africa within 14 days of traveling to Nigeria will be denied entry,” Mustapha said. However, travellers who transited through certain nations are exempt from this rule.
“Non-Nigerians will be denied entry and returned to the country of embarkation at the expense of the airline if they fail to comply; Nigerians and those with a permanent resident permit who visited Brazil, Turkey, or South Africa within 14 days of travel to Nigeria will be subjected to a seven-day mandatory quarantine.
