Airports: PCR tests no longer required for travel, face masks not mandatory, others

…airlines to resume serving of meals, drinks onboard

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, says wearing of face masks by passengers onboard aircraft or inside airport terminal buildings is no longer mandatory.

In its revised Covid-19 Public Health Guidelines to all service providers both domestic and international, signed by the Director General, NCAA, Captain Musa Nuhu says, the use of face masks is now discretionary but recommended.

He explained that, the Presidential Steering Committee (PSC) on COVID-19 revised public health guidelines says that, for domestic passengers Persons aged 60 years and above, immunocompromised, and those with co-morbidities are advised to use facemasks, wash their hands with water and soap, use hand alcohol-based sanitisers and avoid large gatherings.

The disinfection of bags at the entrance of terminal buildings and maintenance of social distancing at airport terminal buildings is no longer required and also that, airlines can resume serving meals and drinks onboard aircraft while the use of alcohol-based sanitiser by passengers and airport workers is recommended.

For International passengers, Captain Nuhu said, Pre-departure and post-arrival COVID-19 PCR tests are no longer required for all passengers irrespective of vaccination status while PCR tests required for all passengers who are partially or not fully vaccinated have equally been suspended.

Also, health declaration forms and permission to travel/QR code are no longer required but a simplified health questionnaire form (non-COVID-19 specific) shall be completed by all passengers travelling to Nigeria preferably pre-departure on the Nigerian International Travel Portal (NITP).

The NCAA DG said, the guideline shall be effective immediately and warned that failure by any aviation service provider to comply shall attract appropriate sanction.