TheCable

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) says passengers intending to visit Nigeria upon resumption of international flights must undergo COVID-19 test within two weeks before travelling.

Musa Shuaibu Nuhu, director-general of Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), had announced last week during the presidential taskforce on COVID-19 (PTF) briefing that all passengers who intend to travel outside the country must provide a COVID-19 negative test result before boarding the plane.

In a tweet on Monday, FAAN said the compulsory COVID-19 test is part of the international flight resumption COVID-19 passenger protocols.

“Passengers arriving and returning to Nigeria must have tested negative for COVID-19 (pre-boarding polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test in country of departure),” the tweet read.

“COVID-19 test must be two weeks before departure and preferably no less than five days pre-boarding.”

International flight Resumption #COVID19 Passenger Protocol. pic.twitter.com/TEp6ahhzAh

— Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (@FAAN_Official) August 24, 2020

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The federal government had suspended international flights into and out of Nigeria on March 23, 2020, except for emergency and essential flights, due to the COVID-19 outbreak in the country.

Domestic flights resumed on July 8 with various COVID-19 protocols put in place including one that advised passengers to arrive at the airport three hours before takeoff and was eventually reduced to 90 minutes.

International flights are scheduled to resume on August 29 with the Lagos and Abuja airports as it did with the domestic flights.