The Federal Government through the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority on Monday said that pre-arrival or post-arrival testing for COVID-19 is no longer a prerequisite for travelers irrespective of vaccination their status.
This announcement was contained in a letter by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, dated 12 December, 2022, and addressed to airline operators.
NCAA Director-General Musa Nuhu, disclosed that the health status declaration form for travelers entering Nigeria has been replaced with a health questionnaire to “be completed by all passengers travelling to Nigeria preferably pre-departure on the Nigerian International Travel Portal (NITP)”.
The letter reads: “COVID-19 Travel Testing: Pre-departure and Post-arrival COVID-19 PCR tests are no longer required for all passengers irrespective of vaccination status. PCR tests required for all passengers who have been partial/not fully vaccinated have been suspended.”
It further noted that aside from the suspension of COVID-19 tests, wearing face masks is no longer mandatory for passengers on board aircraft.
Passengers who fail to fill the health questionnaire on the NITP pre-departure will be required to fill the health questionnaire either on board the aircraft prior to landing or at the airport terminal building upon arrival.
“Persons aged 60 years and above, immunocompromised (e.g. due to organ transplant, cancer, etc), those with co-morbidities (e.g. heart disease, Diabetes Mellitus, Hypertension, etc), are advised to use face masks, wash their hands with water and soap, use hand alcohol-based sanitizers, and avoid large gatherings.
“Disinfection of bags at the entrance of terminal buildings is no longer required.
“Airlines are therefore required to resume serving catering (meals and drinks) on board aircraft.
“Maintaining social distancing at airport terminal buildings is no longer mandatory.
“Facilities and conveyances are advised to maintain good environmental hygiene, good ventilation, and encourage good hand and respiratory hygiene.”
The Nigerian aviation authority noted that it recommends the use of alcohol-based sanitiser for passengers and airport workers and stated that boarding and disembarkation protocols are to be maintained.
“All other COVID-19 quarantine/travel requirements are hereby made optional.
“This AOL supersedes previous AOLs issued on COVID-19 for domestic and international operations.”
When contacted, General Manager, Public Affairs, NCAA, Sam Adurogboye said: “That is the current state and development which is at the instance of the Presidential Steering Committee.”
The Federal Ministry of Health confirmed the first coronavirus disease (COVID-19) case in Lagos State, Nigeria, on 27 February 2020, following the outbreak in China in January 2020.
The case is an Italian citizen who works in Nigeria and returned from Milan, Italy to Lagos, Nigeria on the 25 February, 2020.
He was confirmed by the Virology Laboratory of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, part of the Laboratory Network of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control.