Inbound travellers to provide Covid-19 vaccination evidence, FG says

The Federal Government has said that all international travellers arriving Nigeria are now required to provide evidence of vaccination at the points of entry.

This is following the reported upsurge in COVID-19 in China, Japan, the United States of America and other countries.

The FG also said unvaccinated passengers arriving from other countries may have to be vaccinated at the airport.

The Director of Port Health Services, Dr Geoffrey Okatubo disclosed this at the ministerial briefing held in Abuja.

The government had in December relaxed the COVID-19 rules in the country.

It said all pre-departure and post-arrival PCR test requirements for all persons who are not fully vaccinated have been suspended and passengers will no longer be required to upload evidence of vaccination on the Nigeria International Travel Portal.

The PUNCH reports that China’s decision to relax its strict COVID-19 rules to curb the virus has forced many countries to impose restrictions on travellers from China amid fears of an increase in COVID-19.

Speaking on Monday, Dr Okatubo said “As you are all aware that the Presidential Steering Committee announced the relaxation of the COVID-19 safety measures in Nigeria some few weeks ago. However, following the reported upsurge in COVID-19 in China, Japan, the U.S., and other countries, Port Health Services has continued to heighten surveillance at our points of entry. The port health services have resumed checks of passengers’ vaccination status, and we provide traffic data on inbound passengers from all over the world.

“All international travellers arriving in Nigeria are now to provide evidence of vaccination at the point of entry and it was agreed that unvaccinated passengers arriving from other countries may have to be vaccinated at the airport.

“The Minister of Health recently approved that Port Health Services should meet with other stakeholders such as the NCDC, the Ministry of Aviation, Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, and relevant unions over the use of rapid diagnostic test kits for testing any suspected ill passenger at our points of entry.

“Port Health Services officers are still positioned at the seaport and offshore platforms to screen all crew and passengers coming into the country.”