FG Stops Conducting COVID-19 Exams on Travelers

The immediate relaxation of the COVID-19 safety precautions and travel advice, including the elimination of all pre-departure, pre-boarding, and post-arrival PCR test requirements, has been approved by the Federal Government.

This was said in a statement on Monday by Boss Mustapha, who is the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and the Chairman of the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 (PSC).

Mustapha says that President Muhammadu Buhari’s approval is in line with what the PSC suggested, since clinical and lab data show that COVID-19 infections and transmissions are going down all over the country.

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Part of the announcement states, “Any pre-departure and post-arrival PCR test requirements for all those who are not completely immunized have been stopped.”

Passengers would no longer be required to upload proof of vaccination on the Nigeria International Travel Portal as a result of the suspension of the preboarding and post-arrival PCR tests (NITP). All travelers who are unvaccinated or only partially immunized are highly advised to get completely immunized.

Form for a Health Declaration On the Nigeria International Travel Portal (NITP), all travelers traveling in Nigeria must fill out a condensed health declaration (not unique to COVID-19), though accommodations will be made upon arrival for those who were unable to do so before flying.

The Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 (PSC) finally makes an impassioned plea to Nigerians to make sure they get their initial COVID-19 vaccinations and any booster shots.

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) prohibited international flights from Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos and Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport in Abuja on March 23, 2020, following the country’s first case of COVID-19 being reported in February 2020.

The NCAA does state that essential and emergency flights are excluded from the prohibition. The Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport in Kano, the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu, and the Port Harcourt International Airport in Omagwa were shut down by the federal government on March 21, 2020.

However, on September 5, 2020, the NCAA restarted international flights after a five-month suspension, with severe COVID-19 requirements for passengers.

See the full statement below: