The Federal Government has vowed to fine airlines the sum of $3,500 per passenger or ban them from flying in the country, if they fail to comply with its new COVID-19 pre-boarding requirements.
This was disclosed by the Secretary to the Federal Government and Chairman of the Presidential Steering Committee (PSC), Boss Mustapha, on Wednesday.
One of the pre-boarding requirements, states that incoming passengers must now perform a COVID-19, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test three days before boarding.
Mustapha said, “The test detects the presence of a virus if you are infected at the time of the test. The test could also detect fragments of virus even after you are no longer infected. This is part of the new reviewed travel restrictions in the country.
”Passengers must perform a COVID-19 PCR test not more than three days (72 hours) before boarding. PCR test done more than 72 hours before departure is not valid and person will not be allowed to board. Rapid antigen or antibody test are not acceptable; only PCR test can be used for this purpose.
“Test validity commences from the time of sample collection. For passengers with multiple connections before arrival in Nigeria.”
He added that passengers must bring along an electronic or hard copy of their COVID-19 PCR test for presentation at the departure airport and upon arrival in Nigeria.
The PSC chairman also stated that foreigners without PCR test would be deported.
He insisted that all intending passengers (including diplomats and children less than 10 years old) must register via an online national travel portal (Nigeria International Travel Portal.)
He added that they should proceed to fill in the online Health Declaration/Self-Reporting form located on the portal and ensure that the information/contact details provided on the form were correct and verifiable.
