The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 (PSC) announced the revision of the COVID-19/public health guidelines for all aviation service providers in Nigeria, including domestic and international operations, on Monday, December 12.

In a statement signed by the Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation, Captain Musa S. Nuhu, the aviation service providers have been directed to cease the mandatory requirements of wearing facemasks inside Airport terminal buildings and onboard aircraft with immediate effect.

Passengers who are immunocompromised as a result of a heart transplant, cancer, etc., as well as those with co-morbidities such as diabetes, heart disease, mellitus, hypertension, and so on, are advised to follow basic safety precautions such as wearing a facemask, sanitizing, and avoiding large crowds.

The serving of meals and drinks on board aircraft will now resume while boarding and disembarkation protocols will also be maintained.

The All Operators Letter issued by the Nigerian government also discontinued the "permission to travel" (QR code), pre-departure, and post-arrival COVID-19 PCR tests for all passengers, irrespective of vaccination status. 

Meanwhile, a simplified, non-COVID-19-specific Health Questionnaire form must be completed by all passengers traveling to Nigeria on the Nigerian International Travel Portal (NITP). Where passengers fail to fill out the health questionnaire before departure, they will be required to do so either on board the aircraft before landing or at the Airport terminal buildings upon arrival.

Other COVID-19 quarantine and travel requirements are now optional.

NUSA Gauteng wishes all passengers traveling to Nigeria safe travels and admonishes everyone to be cooperative and patient with airport staff as they adjust to these new guidelines and comply with the above requirements.