The Presidential Task Force (PTF) on Covid-19 has announced new travel rules for passengers coming into Nigeria from South Africa and the UK where a new variant of the virus has surged in recent weeks.
The National Coordinator of the PTF, Dr Sani Aliyu disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja during a media briefing.
Aliyu said effective from Monday, all passengers coming into the country from the UK and South Africa on direct flights must use Nigerian International Travel Portal to register.
They are also to fill the health questionnaire and must upload a negative Covid-19, polymerase chain reaction, (PCR) result with a validity of not more than five days.
He added that travellers must pay for a Covid-19 PCR test at day seven of arrival in the country without which they would not be allowed to board the flights.
The coordinator also said a special register would be opened at the airports for passengers from these two countries specifically to track and ensure they presented themselves for the Covid-19 test on day seven.
He said there would be sanctions on passengers that presented a fake PRC results.
“We will continue to be concerned about the emergence of a 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 most strict.
We are one of the few countries that do double testing, that has 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 will be required to ensure the safety of our citizens.
“So, effective from 00 hours on Monday, December 28, all passengers coming into the country from the UK and South Africa on direct flights, must use the Nigerian International 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 arrival in the country, he said.
