Nigerian Flight Deck Travel and Business Reportage
FEDERAL government of Nigeria has warned international airlines against flying travellers infected with or having symptoms of infection of COVID-19 into the country, placing a US$3, 500 fine on airlines that violate the directive.
The National Coordinator of the Taskforce on COVID-19, Dr Sani Aliyu, during a briefing of the taskforce in Abuja on Monday made this known as the country is set to reopen its international borders four days from this report.
Dr. Aliyu said, “We will continue with the policy of ensuring that airlines only board passengers without symptoms of Covid-19 and with negative PCR results. Airlines will be fined $3,500 if they fail to comply with pre-boarding Covid-19 requirements.”
Aliyu warned that all intending travellers into Nigeria must have a coronavirus negative test result to be eligible to fly as stipulated in the protocol for travellers and carriers.
He said: “All travellers coming into the country will continue to observe the old quarantine protocol that we currently have. We will be continuing with the process of requesting for a negative PCR result for all passengers intending to travel to Nigeria. This test must be a PCR test.”
Nigeria expects to scale up coronavirus tests to accommodate tests of international travellers. The taskforce says it expects the NCDC to ramp up testing capacity with the opening of international flights.
