[News] Airlines to pay $3,500 fine for each foreigner who visited Brazil, India, Turkey or South Africa within 14 days preceding travel to Nigeria – FG

The federal government has announced that airlines operating in the country will have to pay a $3,500 fine for each foreigner who visited Brazil, India, Turkey or South Africa within 14 days preceding travel to Nigeria.

Boss Mustapha, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and chairman of the presidential steering committee on COVID-19 who made the announcement on Wednesday June 30, said non-Nigerian passport holders and non-residents who visited Brazil, India, Turkey or South Africa within 14 days preceding travel to Nigeria, shall be denied entry into the country.

The directive which excludes those who transited through these countries, will take effect on July 2. Nigerians and those with permanent resident permits who visited Brazil, India, Turkey and South Africa within 14 days preceding travel to Nigeria shall be made to undergo seven days of mandatory quarantine in a government approved facility at the point-of-entry city and at cost to the passenger.

The statement read;

“Non-Nigerian passport holders and non-residents who visited Brazil, India, Turkey or South Africa within 14 days preceding travel to Nigeria, shall be denied entry into Nigeria. This regulation, however, does not apply to passengers who transited through these countries.

“The following measures shall apply to airlines and passengers who fail to comply with (a) above: airlines shall mandatorily pay a penalty of $3,500 for each defaulting passenger; and non-Nigerians will be denied entry and returned to the country of embarkation at cost to the airline.

“Nigerians and those with permanent resident permits who visited Brazil, India, Turkey and South Africa within 14 days preceding travel to Nigeria shall be made to undergo seven days of mandatory quarantine in a government approved facility at the point-of-entry city and at cost to the passenger.

“The following conditions shall apply to such passengers: within 24 hours of arrival shall take a COVID-19 PCR test; if positive, the passenger shall be admitted within a government-approved treatment centre, in line with national treatment protocols; and if negative, the passenger shall continue to remain in quarantine and made to undergo a repeat PCR test on Day-7 of their quarantine.”

Mustapha who further noted that the validity period of pre-boarding COVID-19 PCR test for all Nigeria-bound passengers still remains at 72 hours, stated that travellers must also present a Permit to Travel Certificate/QR code), generated from the Nigeria International Travel Portal (NITP).

Airlines which carry passengers without the documents, will have to pay a $3,500 fine or risk being banned.