Federal Government has relaxed a restriction on foreign travellers without evidence of payment for their COVID-19 PCR test.
In a memo by Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority on Sunday dated September 11, foreign airlines were asked to board passengers without evidence of payment for Day seven COVID-19 PCR test or generate paid QR code/permit to fly.
International airlines have also been advised to notify their passengers of the new development.
The memo was titled “Permission for airlines to board passengers travelling to Nigeria who are unable to show evidence of payment for day seven COVID-19 PCR test or generate paid QR code/permit to fly”.
NCAA Director-General, Captain Nuhu Musa revealed that the decision was taken in view of the challenges some travellers to Nigeria are experiencing while trying to fill their Health and Travel history into Nigeria’s International Travel portal.
Earlier, foreign travellers were required to show proof of payment for their COVID-19 PCR test before they were boarded.
He, however, said such passengers would be required to make payment for the repeat day-7 COVID-19 PCR test at their destination airport in Nigeria.
The memo reads;
The Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 has been made aware of challenges some travelers are experiencing while trying to fill their Health and travel history into the Nigeria International Travel Portal.
Airlines are thereby permitted to board any traveller to Nigeria who is unable to either pay for the repeat Day Seven COVID-19 PCR test or generate the paid QR code/ permit to fly.
Such passengers will be required to make payment for the repeat Day Seven COVID-19 PCR test at their destination airport in Nigeria.
Holders of Diplomatic passports and Children aged 10 years and below who are unable to complete NITP are to be allowed to board the flight.
Their health declaration and travel history will be captured by the Port Health Services (PHS) at the destination airport.
Airlines are to bring this information to the knowledge of the passenger and ensure strict compliance with above-stated conditions.
This measure is expected to ease the difficulty experienced by international travellers whose PCR codes are not immediately generated after paying statutory fees.
Many Nigerians living in diaspora have lamented the gross incompetence of NCAA officials who lack technical resources to ensure passengers meet travel requirements.
Some of these Nigerians have been left stranded at the ports of departure for not having QR codes which ought to be generated automatically after payment of statutory fees.
