Incoming passengers to Nigeria from August 29 must have tested negative for COVID-19 from a PCR test that is carried out within two weeks of their departure and not less than five days of pre-boarding from the country of their origin for them to be allowed into Nigeria.
On arrival in Nigeria, such passengers are to self-isolate for 14 days and their passports retained by the government authorities until the end of the 14 days for self-isolation.
These new conditions are part of the highlights of the revised guidelines issued by the Presidential Task Force (PTF) to all Nigeria High Commission to guide returnees and foreigners that want to come to Nigeria.
The PTF had Monday announced that the Nigerian airspace will be opened to international flights from August 29 and this has compelled the Federal Government to issue precautionary measures to lessen the spread of the virus that has killed many globally.
The Nigerian government on March 23 banned all international flights from entering the country as it closed its airspace while allowing only emergency and essential flights for an initial period of time.
The federal government took the decision to curb the spread of the deadly coronavirus that has killed several worldwide and disrupted the global economy.
However, the government has relaxed the measures, as it opened the airspace to domestic flights in July to gradually test the ground for the international flights which resume on August 29.
As of August 18, Nigeria has recorded 49,895 confirmed cases of Coronavirus of which 37,051 have been discharged and 981 deaths.
The new guidelines also ordered that tests done more than two weeks before departure are not valid and such persons will not be allowed to come to Nigeria.
Furthermore, onboard, passengers are to fill in the Health Declaration/ Self-Reporting form and the sample collection time allocation form while they should also ensure that the information/contact details provided on the form are correct and verifiable in Nigeria.
The PTF also insisted that on arrival in Nigeria, passengers are expected to queue up in an orderly manner while disembarkation will be done systematically and in batches to avoid overcrowding as they proceed for health screening at the Point of Entry.
The signed Health Declaration Form will be assessed and collected along with the Sample Collection Form in addition to other precautionary measures such as keeping their face masks on, perform hand hygiene, ensure respiratory / cough etiquette; cough into a tissue, sleeve/ bent elbow and discard used tissue safely into a bin and, always observing and maintaining physical distancing.
The new guidelines also states that persons who have arrived in Nigeria must self-isolate for 14 days in the city/ state of the point of entry (i.e. Lagos or Abuja) throughout the duration of self-quarantine.
For passengers that are not residents in Lagos or Abuja, the government says they are to make arrangements for accommodation at their own cost The PTF guidelines also noted that passengers after the successful completion of the 14 days self-quarantine will undergo a repeat COVID-19 PCR test within 72 hours of arrival at the Sample Collection Centre in Lagos or Abuja.
Other conditions the passengers must fulfill before exiting the airport include submitting to the Nigerian authorities, full and correct address and phone number as well as complying with self-isolation/quarantine guidelines andensure that they can be reached and can be located during the period.
For passengers that did not self-quarantine in Lagos or Abuja, they may return to their States of residence only after they have had their samples collected and are negative for COVID-19.
They are also required to provide Public Health Officials with their full and correct address and phone number where they can be reached.
Afterwards, persons that have completed the 14 days of self-isolation/quarantine will undergo an exit interview while their details will be forwarded to the Nigeria ImmigrationService for release of their passports.
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