By Uche Mbah
The Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, has released a list of airlines approved for the resumption of international flights on September 5. The list is for the two major air hubs in Nigeria – the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, and Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
Recall that the Federal government shifted the earlier resumption date for the airlines to Saturday, September 5, to meet up with the logistics of the reopening.
The list of the airlines approved include British Airways, Delta Airlines, Emirates, Qatar, Kenya Airways, Middle East Airline, Egypt Air, Emirate, Ethiopian Airline, WA, and Turkish Airline. Virgin Atlantic, Air Peace, Asky, Africa Ward Ghana, Air Cote d’Ivoire.
Lufthansa, KLM, AirFrance were denied approval, together with Etihad, RwandAir, Air Namibia, Air Almaro, Angola and South African airways.
Based on the new approval, Lagos airport can welcome British Airways, Delta Airlines, Emirates Qatar, Kenya Airways, which are already scheduled to fly in passengers on the opening day. Ethiopian Air, BA, Egypt Air, Middle East, Middle East and Turkish Airline will fly into Abuja.
On Sunday, Delta, Air Senegal, Virgin Atlantic, Ethiopian, AWA and Turkish will fly into Lagos while Abuja airport will receive BA, Egypt Air, Ethiopian, Emirate, and AWA.
On Monday, Turkish, Air Senegal, Virgin Atlantic, Qatar, AWA, Kenya Airways, and British Airways will fly into Lagos. For Abuja on Mondays are BA, Emirates, Ethiopia, and AWA.
These airlines have complied with the Foreign Operator Carrier Operator Permit which is the legal requirement for every airline operating in Nigeria, the COVID-19 guideline by the PTF and other guidelines and restrictions from other countries.
All intending travelers to Nigeria are expected to test negative to Covid-19 by PCR in the country of departure before four days of departure preferably, 72hrs before boarding. In certain Countries, the PCR would only be accepted from identified laboratories. Those who do not comply with this will not be allowed entry, and those who entered will be quarantined for 14 days. Airlines will also be fined $3500 per passenger if they fail to comply with the preboarding requirement, Sirika said. Those who show COVID 19 symptoms will undergo institutional quarantine.
“All intending passengers are required to register on an online Nigeria International Travel payment portal at http//:nitp.ncdc.gov.ng and also pay for a second repeat test to be done in Nigeria.”
“Once payment is completed passengers will receive an email for the selected laboratory of their choice providing them with the laboratory link to register for the PCR test on the 7th day of their arrival. Passengers would be allowed to choose a sample collection center and appointment time and the date for sample collection.”
“A list of private laboratory provided and the sample collection centers will be available on the NCDC website adding that passengers will also fill the online self-declaration form also located the same payment platform and submit online or submit for presentation on arrival.”
“They must ensure that the information, contact details provided on the platform are correct and verifiable and can be reached when needed. Passengers must inform port health officials on the arrival of any changes in their health, state completion of the health self-declaration in other words take responsibilities.”
“Prior to boarding passengers must upload their COVID-19 negative test result on the payment portal and will have a copy for presentation at the airport. Prior to boarding all travelers will undergo screening for fever and would be questioned for COVID-19 symptoms.
“Passengers with COVID-19 symptoms will not be allowed to board the flight and airlines must only board passengers with COVID-19 test result done within the stipulated 4 days. Airlines that board passengers without the negative COVID-19 PCR test will be sanctioned as follows:
“Non-Nigerians will be refused entry and return to the country of origin at the cost of the airlines. So airlines would be made to return the people back to where they boarded from and the cost will be borne by the airline.”
The minister said passengers who fail to submit themselves or declare their PCR test will be placed on a watch list for six months and denied foreign travel. He assured that test result will be available within 24 days.
