PRESIDENTIAL STEERING COMMITTEE ON COVID-19
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNMENT OF THE FEDERATION

COVID-19 RESPONSE: PROVISIONAL TRAVEL PROTOCOL FOR TRAVELLERS ARRIVING NIGERIA

I. GUIDELINES FOR IN-BOUND PASSENGERS

A. PRE-DEPARTURE FROM COUNTRY OF EXIT:

I. Pre-Boarding:

STEP 1 - PRE-BOARDING COVID-19 PCR TEST

a.          PASSENGERS WITH EVIDENCE OF FULL VACCINATION: This requirement is waved for passengers who are fully vaccinated. Passengers who are not able to show evidence of full vaccination will be treated as unvaccinated/partially vaccinated under this protocol.

Full Vaccination for COVID-19 refers to a person who received Two (2) doses any of the following COVID-19 vaccines at least Two (2) weeks before date of Travel:

i. Pfizer/ Bio-Ntech
ii. Moderna
iii. Oxford Astra-Zeneca
iv. Sputnik
v. Sinopharm
vi. Sinovac
vii. COVAXIN
viii. COVOVAX
ix. Nuvaxovid
OR
a Single dose of any of the following COVID-19 vaccines:
i. Jensen (Johnson and Johnson)
ii. Sputnik Light

[ Persons who received a single dose of these vaccines are considered not fully vaccinated ].

b.          PASSENGERS WHO DO NOT HAVE EVIDENCE OF FULL VACCINATION: travelers MUST perform a COVID-19 PCR test not more than 2 days (48 hours) before boarding. PCR tests done more than 48 hours before departure is not valid and persons will not be allowed to board. Rapid antigen or antibody test are not acceptable; only PCR tests can be used for this purpose. Test validity commences from the time of sample collection. For travelers with multiple connections before arrival in Nigeria, the PCR test must be valid within 48 hours of boarding from the first point of departure. Travelers must bring along an electronic or hard copy of their negative COVID-19 PCR test for presentation at the departure airport and upon arrival in Nigeria. 

STEP 2 – COMPLETION OF HEALTH DECLARATION FORM:  All travelers MUST register via the Nigeria International Travel Portal (NITP– https://nitp.ncdc.gov.ng) and proceed to fill in the online Health Declaration/Self-Reporting form located on the portal. They should ensure that the information/ contact details provided on the form are correct and verifiable. Travelers must provide valid phone numbers, residential addresses, and functional e-mails where they can be contacted. Travelers must also inform Port Health officials on arrival of any change in their health status since completion of the Health Declaration/Self-Reporting Form.

STEP 3 – UPLOADING COVID-19 NEGATIVE PCR TEST RESULT (THIS APPLIES TO UNVACCINATED/PARTIALLY VACCINATED PASSENGERS ONLY): After filling the online Health Declaration/Self-Reporting Form, travelers will be directed to upload their negative COVID-19 PCR test on to the portal. Once this is successfully done, travelers will proceed to the payment section of the travel portal. Travelers are advised to still bring along an electronic or hard copy of their negative COVID-19 PCR test for presentation at the airport.  

STEP 4 – PAYMENT FOR COVID-19 PCR TEST ON DAY 2 AND ON DAY 7 POST ARRIVAL (THIS APPLIES TO PARTIALLY VACCINATED AND UNVACCINATED PERSONS) 
On reaching the payment section of the portal, travelers will be requested to select their preferred Laboratory/ Sample Collection Centre based on where they will be self-isolating for the period of 7-days in Nigeria. A list of accredited private laboratory providers/Sample Collection Centers across the country are available on the payment platform. The next stage is to choose a bank payment gateway and then proceed to pay for the Day 2 (arrival day + 1 day) and Day 7 (arrival day + 6 days) in-country COVID19 PCR tests. Please note that travelers paying in Naira should use cards issued by a Nigerian bank. Passengers who select the bank transfer option should take note that a 48-hour period may be needed to complete the transaction. 

STEP 5 – PERMIT TO TRAVEL /QR CODE:

a) FOR FULLY VACCINATED PASSENGERS: Following completion of the Health declaration form, fully vaccinated passengers should proceed to print Permit to Travel/QR Code at the top right corner of the portal, save and print the form for presentation atthe point of boarding.

b) FOR UNVACCINATED OR PARTIALLY VACCINATED PASSENGERS: Following successful complementation of the NITP and payment for repeat post-arrival PCR tests, travelers should download the Permit to Travel Certificate/QR Code using the “Get Permit to Travel” button visible located at the top right corner of the portal, save and print the form for presentation at the point of boarding. The Permit to Travel Certificate/ QR code will have a “PAID” label if payment is successful and “UNPAID” label if payment had not gone through yet or is unsuccessful. A copy of the Permit to Travel Certificate/QR Code will also be sent to the email address provided by the traveler. 

II. Boarding

1. Prior to boarding for Nigeria, travellers MUST present TWO documents at their point of departure to be allowed to board;

A. FOR FULLY VACCINATED PASSENGERS

a. A verifiable full vaccination certificate (with a valid security mark); and
b. Permit to travel certificate/QR Code

B. FOR UNVACCINATED OR PARTIALLY VACCINATED PASSENGERS 

a. A negative COVID-19 PCR test done within 2 days (48 hours) of departure. Airlines have been instructed not to board travelers with non-PCR COVID-19 tests (such as antigen or antibody tests), a positive COVID-19 PCR test result, or tests done beyond 48 hours of boarding; and

b. A Paid permit to Travel Certificate/QR code - Passengers who fail to show a Paid Permit to Travel Certificate/QR Code will not be allowed to board.

C. Airlines that board travelers without the appropriate required documents; Vaccine certificate, a negative COVID-19 PCR test done not more than 48 hours prior to boarding and a Paid Permit to Travel /QR code (as may be applicable to the passenger), shall be sanctioned as follows:

i. Travelers, who are non-Nigerians, will be refused entry into Nigeria and returned to the point of embarkation at cost to the airline;

ii. Travelers who are Nigerians or holders of permanent resident permit will be allowed entry, but subjected to the procedure outlined in Section D below. In addition, travelers arriving with forged (fake) vaccine certificate or COVID-19 PCR results shall be prosecute and required to carry out PCR tests on arrival, on days 2 and 7.

iii. Airlines shall be fined USD 3,500 per traveler for failure to comply with any of the above mentioned pre-boarding requirements;

iv. Airlines who consistently fail to comply with the above requirements may be banned from coming to Nigeria; and 

v. At the time of boarding, travelers will be required to undergo temperature screening and asked about COVID-19 symptoms. Travelers with temperature >38°C and other COVID19 related signs and symptoms shall not be allowed to board the flight.

B. ON ARRIVAL IN NIGERIA

All travelers are required to strictly adhere to instructions given by Port Health Services at the arrival terminal. Travelers who fail to adhere to instructions will be sanctioned by relevant security personnel.
All travellers arriving in Nigeria will be required to:

1. Go through the routine Port Health screening and present electronic or print-out evidence of preboarding COVID-19 PCR test (Unvaccinated/partially vaccinated passengers only), Permit to Travel Certificate/ QR Code; and Vaccination Certificate (For fully vaccinated travelers).

2. All travelers (Fully, partially vaccinated, and unvaccinated) are to present their international passports for clearance through the Nigerian Immigration Service System’s Migrants Identification Data Analysis System (MIDAS). 

3. If unvaccinated or partially vaccinated, proceed on mandatory 7 days self-isolation/quarantine in their selected in-country destination address. Travelers are to avoid physical interaction with friends, family members, colleagues, and other members of the public during the period of self-isolation. Travelers should check their emails/text messages regularly for updates regarding the arrangement for their repeat COVID-19 PCR test from the laboratory of their choice. During this period the traveler may be contacted by the COVID-19 Response team to ascertain state of self-isolation, Days 2 & 7 testing appointment and health status. 

4. Travelers who are fully vaccinated are not required to observe the mandatory 7-day quarantine nor undertake the day 2 and day 7 post arrival PCR tests. 

5. Unvaccinated or partially vaccinated travelers are to show-up at the laboratory/sample collection centers chosen by them while filling the NITP on the 2nd and 7th day of arrival. Samples will be taken, and a COVID-19 PCR test done. The selected private laboratory will send a reminder text message, email, or phone call to the traveler a day before the appointment date; 

6. Unvaccinated or partially vaccinated Persons who test negative for COVID-19 after 7 days of selfisolation/quarantine will be allowed to exit self-isolation on receipt of their result, but if tested positive, will be treated according to measures instituted by the government.

C. NOTE:

i. Travelers (Partially vaccinated and unvaccinated travelers only) who fail to show up at the sample collection centers on Days - 2 and 7 of arrival (as applicable) will be sent text reminders and their details forwarded to the State Public Health Department teams and Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) for active follow-up;

ii. Travelers (Partially vaccinated and unvaccinated travelers only) who fail to show up for testing will have travel restrictions placed on their passports for at least 6 months and will not be able to travel abroad during this period. Non-Nigerian passport holders will have their visas revoked and deported from the country;

iii. Test results will be provided within 24 hours and the State Public Health Departments & NCDC will be informed; accordingly. If test result is not received after 24hrs, the traveler may contact the private Laboratory to ask for his/her test result;

iv. Persons (Partially vaccinated and unvaccinated travelers only) who test negative for COVID-19 after 7 days shall end self-isolation on receipt of their test result but must continue to self-monitor for symptoms until Day-14; and MUST continue to observe Non-Pharmaceutical Intervention measures (e.g. wearing face mask, maintaining social distance, regular washing of hands and use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers);

v. Persons (Partially vaccinated and unvaccinated travelers only) who test negative for COVID-19 after the post-arrival Day–2 test MUST continue to observe Non-Pharmaceutical Intervention measures (e.g. wearing face mask (in crowded areas and in-doors), maintaining social distance, regular washing of hands and use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers);

vi. All Travellers reporting or developing symptoms of COVID-19 on arrival in Nigeria, or during screening will not be allowed to self-isolate and will be placed in institutional quarantine; and

vii. Persons (Partially vaccinated and unvaccinated travelers only) who test positive for COVID19 after the post-arrival Days 2 and 7 test (as applicable) shall be managed based on national guidelines for COVID-19 treatment.

D. PROCEDURE FOR TRAVELLERS ARRIVING WITHOUT A VALID PCR RESULT 

Any traveler (Partially vaccinated and unvaccinated travelers only) arriving in Nigeria without a valid COVID-19 PCR result (i.e., no COVID-19 PCR test result, a forged COVID-19 PCR test result or COVID19 antigen or antibody test result) will be subjected to the following measures:

1. If holding foreign passport and non-resident in Nigeria, the traveler will be denied entry into the country and returned to the point of embarkation at cost to the airline.

2. For Nigerians and foreign passport holders with residency rights:

a. Port Health Services will screen the traveler to include a temperature check and review of health questionnaire to establish infectivity risk;

b. Traveler will be escorted by Port Health Services and security personnel to a designated quarantine facility (government approved hotel) for a mandatory quarantine for a period of 7 days at expense to the traveler;

c. Traveler’s passport will be collected by relevant authorities and will not be released to him/her until after successful completion of mandatory quarantine period; and

d. A COVID-19 PCR test will be conducted by a designated private laboratory within 24 hours of arrival at the quarantine facility at expense to the traveler. If the test result is Positive for COVID-19, the traveler will be transferred to an isolation facility and managed according to National treatment guidelines. If test result is negative, passenger will CONTINUE with mandatory isolation at the quarantine facility until a satisfactory Day-7
COVID-19 PCR test is done

E. GUIDELINES FOR OUTBOUND PASSENGERS

All passengers travelling out of Nigeria are encouraged to have taken full vaccination against COVID19 and comply with the testing requirements of the destination and transit countries. Travelers are to familiarize themselves with the COVID-19 requirements of the country they are travelling to before embarking on the journey.

This protocol comes into effect from 12:01 am on Monday, 4th April, 2022.

F. REVIEW OF PROTOCOL
This protocol shall be reviewed in Four (4) weeks.

-Signed
Boss Mustapha
Secretary to the Government of the Federation/
Chairman, Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19