The Federal Government (FG) has announced that COVID-19 tests would no longer be required for travelers regardless of vaccination status. This was made known in a letter addressed to airline operators signed by Musa Nuhu, the Director-General (DG) of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
The letter reads, “COVID-19 Travel Testing: Pre-departure and Post-arrival COVID-19 PCR tests are no longer required for all passengers irrespective of vaccination status. PCR tests required for all passengers who are partially/not fully vaccinated have been suspended.
“The wearing of face masks inside airport terminal buildings and on board aircraft by airport workers, passengers, and crew members is no longer mandatory. Wearing of face masks by passengers on board aircraft or inside airport terminal buildings is discretionary but recommended.
“Persons aged 60 years and above, immunocompromised (e.g. due to organ transplant, cancer, etc.) those whit co-morbidities (e.g. heart disease, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, etc.) are advised to use face masks, wash their hands with water and soap, use hand alcohol-based sanitizers and avoid large gatherings”.
The letter also stated that some COVID-19 precautions were no longer mandatory such as disinfection of bags at the entrance of airports and social distancing.
According to the letter, “Declaration form, permission to travel/QR code is no longer required. A simplified health questionnaire form (non-COVID-19 specific) shall be completed by all passengers traveling to Nigeria, preferably pre-departure on the Nigerian International Travel Portal (NITP).
“Passengers who fail to fill the health questionnaire on the NITP pre-departure will be required to fill the health questionnaire either on board the aircraft, prior to landing or at the airport terminal building upon arrival.
“All other COVID-19 quarantine/travel requirements are hereby made optional”.
