COVID -19 Quarantine Protocol

Pre-departure from country of exit

I. Pre-Boarding

STEP 1 - Passengers MUST perform a COVID-19 PCR test not more than 3 days (72 hours) before boarding. PCR test done more than 72 hours before departure is not valid and person will not be allowed to board. Rapid antigen or antibody test are not acceptable; only PCR test can be used for this purpose. Test validity commences from the time of sample collection. For passengers with multiple connections before arrival in Nigeria, the PCR test must be valid within 72 hours of boarding from the first point of departure. Passengers must bring along an electronic or hard copy of their COVID-19 PCR test for presentation at the departure airport and upon arrival in Nigeria.

STEP 2 - All intending passengers (including diplomats and children less than 10 years old) MUST register via an online national travel portal (Nigeria International Travel Portal – 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. Passengers MUST provide valid phone numbers, residential addresses and functional e-mails where they can be contacted. Passengers must also inform Port Health officials on arrival of any change in their health status since completion of the Health Declaration/Self-Reporting Form. Passengers who falsify their status as diplomats will face prosecution.

STEP 3 - After filling the online Health Declaration/Self-Reporting Form, passengers will be directed to upload their negative COVID-19 PCR test on to the portal. Only children less than 10 years old are exempted from uploading a negative COVID-19 PCR test result. Once this is successfully done, passengers will proceed to the payment section of the travel portal. Passengers are advised to still bring along an electronic or hard copy of their COVID-19 PCR test for presentation at the airport.

STEP 4 - On reaching the payment section of the portal, passengers 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-7 in-country COVID-19 PCR test.  Please note that passengers paying in naira should use cards issued by a Nigerian bank. Diplomats and children less than 10 years old are exempted from payment for the repeat COVID-19 test.

STEP 5 - Following successful payment, passengers should download the Permit to Travel Certificate/ QR Code using the “Get Permit to Travel” button visible 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 has 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 passenger. 

II. Boarding

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

A negative COVID-19 PCR test administered within 3 days (72 hours) of departure. Airlines have been directed not to board passengers with non-PCR COVID-19 tests (such as antigen/or antibody tests), a positive COVID-19 PCR test result or tests performed beyond 72 hours to boarding; and

Permit to Travel Certificate/QR Code - generated from the Nigeria International Travel Portal on completion of a health questionnaire, uploading of a negative COVID-19 PCR result and schedule of PCR test at Day-7 of arrival in Nigeria. Passengers failing to show a Permit to Travel Certificate/QR Code will not be allowed to board.

b. Airlines that board passengers without any of the TWO documents (a negative COVID-19 PCR test done not more than 72 hours prior to boarding and a Permit to Travel Certificate/QR code), shall be sanctioned as follows:

Passengers, who are Non-Nigerians, will be refused entry and returned to the point of embarkation at cost to the airline;

Passengers who are Nigerians or holders of permanent resident permit will be allowed entry, but subjected to the procedure outlined in Section D. In addition, passengers arriving with forged (fake) COVID-19 PCR results shall be referred for prosecution;

Airlines shall be fined USD 3,500 per passenger for failure to comply with any of the pre-boarding requirements;

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

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

On Arrival in Nigeria

All passengers are required to strictly adhere to instructions given by Port Health Services at the arrival terminal. Passengers who fail to adhere to instructions will be sanctioned by relevant security personnel.

All passengers arriving in Nigeria will be required to:

1. Go through the routine Port Health screening and present electronic or print-out evidence of pre-boarding COVID-19 PCR test and the Permit to Travel Certificate/QR Code;

2. Present their international passports for clearance through the Nigerian Immigration Service System’s Migrants Identification Data Analysis System (MIDAS)

3. Proceed on mandatory 7 days self-isolation/quarantine in their selected in-country destination. Passengers are advised to avoid physical interaction with friends, family, colleagues, and other members of the public. Passengers 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 passenger may be contacted by the COVID-19 Response team to ascertain state of isolation, day-7 testing appointment and health status.

4. Show-up at the laboratory/sample collection centers on the 7th day of arrival and pay the applicable fees for the COVID-19 PCR test. 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 passenger a day before the appointment. Note that:

Passengers who fail to show up at the sample collection centers on Day-7 of arrival will be sent text reminders and their details forwarded to the State Public Health Department teams and NCDC for active follow-up;

Passengers who fail to show up for this test will face travel restrictions on their international passports for at least 6 months and will not be able to travel abroad for this period. Non-Nigerian passport holders will have their visas revoked;

Test results will be provided within 24 hours and the State Public Health Department teams & Nigeria Center for Disease Control will be informed accordingly; if test result is not received after 24hrs the passenger may contact the private Laboratory for his test result.

Persons who test POSITIVE for COVID-19 will be managed based on National Guidelines for COVID-19 treatment;

Persons who test NEGATIVE for COVID-19 after 7 days shall end self-isolation on receipt of their result but must continue to self-monitor for symptoms until Day-14; and

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

Exit from Self-Isolation

1. Persons who test positive for COVID-19 after the post-arrival Day-7 test shall be managed based on national guidelines for COVID-19 treatment; and

2. Persons who test negative for COVID-19 after 7 days of self-isolation/quarantine will be allowed to exit self-isolation on receipt of their result.

Procedure for passengers arriving without a valid PCR result

A passenger arriving in Nigeria without a valid PCR result (either no PCR result or a forged COVID-19 PCR result or a non-PCR COVID-19 test e.g., an antigen or antibody test) will be subjected to the following measures:

1. If holding foreign passport and non-resident in Nigeria, the passenger will be denied entry into the country and arrangements made for immediate deportation at cost to the carrier airline.

2. For Nigerians and foreign passport holders with residency rights, they will be provided with an Information Leaflet outlining the procedure that will be followed;

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

4. The passenger will be registered on the Nigeria International Travel Portal;

5. Passenger will be escorted to a designated quarantine facility (government approved hotel) for a period of 7 days at the expense of the passenger. Passenger’s passport will not be released until completion of mandatory quarantine period;

6. COVID-19 PCR test will be conducted by a designated private laboratory within 24hrs of arrival at the quarantine facility at the expense of the passenger. If the test result is Positive, the passenger is transferred to isolation facility and managed accordingly. If test result is Negative, the passenger will CONTINUE with mandatory isolation at the quarantine facility until Day-7 COVID-19 PCR test is done;

7. All passengers presenting a forged COVID-19 PCR results shall be referred to Police Authorities or appropriate bodies for prosecution on expiration of mandatory quarantine period; and

8. Travel documents can only be returned to passengers following clearance by Port Health Services. Passenger Information Leaflet will provide contact details of Port Health Services Focal Person for the return of travel documents.

Guidelines specific to India, Turkey and Brazil and South Africa

1. Non-Nigerian passport holders and non-residents who visited Brazil, India, Turkey or South Africa within fourteen (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;

2. 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 (Three Thousand Five Hundred dollars) for each defaulting passenger; and

Non-Nigerians will be denied entry and returned to the country of embarkation at cost to the Airline;

3. Nigerians and those with permanent resident permit who visited Brazil, India, Turkey and South Africa within fourteen (14) days preceding travel to Nigeria shall be made to undergo seven (7) 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.