FG Slams New Travel Rules For UK, S’African Passengers

The Federal Government has announced new travel rules for passengers coming in from South Africa and United Kingdom, where a new variant of Covid-19 has been discovered.
The National Coordinator of the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19, Dr. Sani Aliyu, made the announcement at yestrday’s media briefing.
He said effective from Monday, December 28, all passengers coming into the country from the UK and South Africa on direct flights, must use the Nigerian International Travel Portal to register, fill in the health questionnaire and must upload a negative Covid-19 PCR result with a validity of not more than five days and must pay for a Covid-19 PCR test at day seven of arrival in country without which they will not be allowed to board the flights.
He also said a special register would be open at the airports for passengers from these two countries specifically to track and ensure they present for Covid-19 test on say seven.
Aliyu also said sanctions will also be meted out in o passengers that present fake PRC result.
He said: “We continue to be concerned about the emergence of the new variant Coronavirus in the UK and additional mutate that was described coming from South Africa. The system for travels in terms of ensuring the safety of our citizens and preventing the importation of cases in the country is one of the strictest. We are one of the few countries that do double testing, that have a travel portal where you can go in and enter your details including your health questionnaire and pay for a test.
“Specifically, for the UK and South Africa, the PTF has met and we have decided that additional measures would be required to ensure the safety of our citizens. So, effective from 00 hours on Monday the 28th December, all passengers coming into the country from the UK and South Africa on direct flights, must use the Nigerian International Travel Portal to register, fill in the health questionnaire and must upload a negative Covid-19 PCR result with a validity of not more than five days and must pay for a Covid-19 PCR test at day seven of arrival in country.
“When you are leaving the UK or South Africa, you need two documents that you have to present to the airlines. The first document is a negative Covid-19 PCR result, second is a permit to travel document, which we use to refer to as the QR code. The only way you can get the permit to travel on the travel portal is by filling in your health questionnaire electronically, uploading your PCR result and paying for the day seven test.
“The second enforcement that we will have has to do with the seven day self-isolation upon arrival in the country. We had a lot of debates as to if we should institute mandatory quarantine when the people arrive. We have decided that when you arrive, we will open a special register for all passengers arriving from these two countries. We will have an enhanced surveillance where these passengers will be contacted after they have arrived home, we will be checking on them to see if they are having any symptoms. But more importantly, we expect these passengers by day seven to unfailing go for your Covid-19 PCR test which you must have before boarding the aircraft.”