FG Reviews Provisional Protocol for Travellers Arriving from Brazil, India and Turkey

Thursday, May 06, 2020 / 10:00 AM / ByDeloitte / Header Image Credit: Round Trip Holidays

The Federal Government of Nigeria, on02 May 2021, announced that travellers arriving from Brazil, India and Turkey(BIT countries) will be denied entry into Nigeria with effect from Tuesday, 4May 2021. This ban will also apply to individuals who have visited any of thesecountries within fourteen (14) days preceding their trip to Nigeria. Therestriction is a result of the reported increase in cases of COVID-19 in theafore-mentioned countries.

The restriction will not apply to thefollowing categories of people:

1. Foreign nationals holding a valid residencepermit in Nigeria.

2. Travellers that have only transitedthrough these countries.

3. Nigerian citizens

However, travellers in the threecategories above will be required to take a COVID-19 Polymerase Chain Reaction(PCR) test within 24 hours of arrival in Nigeria. They will also be required toobserve a seven-day quarantine within a government-approved facility at theirown cost. The travellers would also take a repeat covid-19 PCR test after a7-day quarantine period.

For all other travellers intoNigeria, the validity period of the negative PCR test result required forboarding from their country of departure to Nigeria has been revised from 96hours to 72 hours. Consequently, PCR tests longer than 72 hours would nolonger be accepted. These travellers are still expected to observe the 7-dayself-quarantine period upon arrival in Nigeria and carry out a COVID-19 PCRtest after the 7-day quarantine period.

Airlines that flouts thesepre-boarding protocol would be fined USD3,500 per passenger and may be requiredto return any non-Nigerian defaulting passenger to the country of embarkationwith the cost borne by the airline.

Companies are encouraged to ensurestrict adherence to this new protocol in other to avoid disruption to theirbusiness activities, sanctions/penalties and negative publicity.

For further clarification, pleasereach out to Deloitte via [email protected].