FGN Reviews Provisional Protocol for Travellers Arriving from The United Kingdom and South Africa

Monday, January 4, 2021 / 10:00 AM / ByDeloitte / Header Image Credit: AS English

The Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) has released a revisedquarantine protocol (the Protocol) with a special focus on travellers arrivingfrom the United Kingdom and South Africa. This an update to the provisionalprotocol for all travellers released by the FGN which cameinto effect on 5 September 2020.

The Protocol, issued through the Presidential Task Force (PTF) onCOVID-19, was a necessary response to the recent spike in COVID-19 cases inNigeria as well as reported cases of a new variant of the virus in the UnitedKingdom and South Africa. The Protocol will apply to all airlines withpassengers originating from the United Kingdom (UK) and South Africa (SA),regardless of the transit arrangements.

The highlights of the Protocol, which became effective 28 December 2020,are:

1. Pre-departureRules:

Passengers arriving from the UK and SA must present:

a) A pre-departure PERMIT to FLY/Quick Response (QR) code generated fromthe Nigeria International Travel Portal (https://nitp.ncdc.gov.ng) showing evidenceof payment for the post-arrival Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test inNigeria.

b) Documentary evidence of a negative PCR test done within 96 hours (4days) before boarding the flight to Nigeria. The PCR test must also be from averifiable laboratory or health care facility in the country of departure.

Airlines that fail to comply with the pre-boarding rules will be finedUSD3,500 for each defaulting passenger and asked to return non-Nigeriandefaulting passenger to the country of embarkation. Repeated non-compliancewill lead to suspension of the airline?óÔé¼Ôäós approval/permit to fly into Nigeria.

2. On Arrival in Nigeria

All travellers arriving in Nigeria from the UK and SA will be:

a) Received and attended to separately by the Public Health Authorities

b) Required to proceed on a 7-day self-isolation/quarantine and mustpresent themselves at the sample collection centre on the 7^th dayof arrival for a PCR test. The National Coordinator of the Presidential TaskForce in his speech noted that travellers who fail to show up for the PCR testafter 10 days will be automatically added to the suspension list and theirtravel documents (international passport) suspended for a minimum of 6 months.Also, travellers who have Nigerian entry visas on their international passportsmay have their visa revoked.

Other details are:

A dedicated register for travellers arriving from the UK and SA will beopened for enhanced surveillance and effective enforcement of the Protocol.
Only individuals that have tested negative for COVID-19 after the 7-dayself-isolation/quarantine will be allowed to exit self-isolation on the 8thday.
Persons with a positive COVID-19 PCR result will be referred forisolation and further management.

It is worthy to note that the initial protocol link remains thesame for travellers arriving from other countries except for the validity ofthe pre-departure PCR test which will now be 96 hours from the proposed date ofdeparture.

Companies are encouraged to monitor the compliance of their expatriatestaff/visitors with the Protocol as it relates to flights from the UK and SouthAfrica in order to avoid sanctions/penalties