FG Sets To Revise COVID-19 Travel Protocol ForTravellers Arriving in Nigeria

From Emmanuel Iyoho

ABUJA

The federal government will on Monday, April 4 revise Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19 )travel protocol for travellersarriving in Nigeria, even as Ghana reopened its land and sea borders on Monday after a two-year closure as it lifted some coronavirus restrictions in an attempt to bolster a flagging economy.

This is according to the chairman of the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha.

The new protocol stipulates that in-bound passengers to Nigeria who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 are no longer required to carry out COVID-19 PCR test before boarding Nigeria-bound flights.

It noted that fully vaccinated passengers arriving Nigeria would not be required to carry out Post-arrival PCR test or a Rapid Antigen Test upon arriving Nigeria.

“Children below the age of 18 years will be accorded the same privileges as persons who are fully vaccinated,” the new protocol document said.

However, in-bound passengers who are unvaccinated or partially vaccinated for COVID-19 will still be required to take a COVID-19 PCR test 48 hours before departure and undergo Days 2 and 7 post-arrival PCR tests at their own cost.

Also, all-inbound passengers, regardless of vaccination status, are expected to register via the online Nigeria International Travel Portal (NITP– ‪https://nitp.ncdc.gov.ng‬).

All passengers travelling out of Nigeria are “encouraged to have evidence of full vaccination against COVID-19; comply with the COVID-19 guidelines of their destination or transit countries; and to familiarize themselves with the COVID-19 travel requirements of their destination and transit countries before embarking on the journey.”

In the meantime, Ghana had reopened its land and sea borders on Monday after a two-year closure as it lifted some coronavirusrestrictions in an attempt to bolster a flagging economy.

President Nana Akufo-Addo announced in a televised address on Sunday night that the wearing of masks in the West African country was no longer mandatory as active Covid-19 cases drop below 100.

Afuko-Addo said outdoor functions could resume at full capacity as long as all persons are fully vaccinated.