NCDC Orders Mandatory COVID-19 Test For Travellers

The Director General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, Dr Ifedayo Adetifa stated on Friday that no fewer than 18,000 positive cases of the coronavirus disease were detected in travellers to Nigeria.

He also explained that the decision to make tests mandatory in Nigeria was based on the review of COVID-19 test positivity data among returnees to Nigeria.

“The decision to make repeat tests mandatory in Nigeria was based on the review of COVID-19 test positivity data among returnees to Nigeria during the first and subsequent waves of the pandemic," Adetifa said.

“This was necessary for ensuring a balance to protect the health of Nigerians from more infections and supporting the restart of the economy, including international travel."

“As of January 16, 2022, over 18,000 cases of the COVID-19 have been recorded from inbound travellers to Nigeria. Therefore, the associated risk of disease transmission is not trivial."

He also added that the Nigeria International Travel Portal was launched by the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 with support from the Coalition Against COVID-19 (CACOVID).

"Since the resumption of international flights post-COVID-19 lockdown in Nigeria on September 5, 2020, the portal remains an effective means of preventing the importation of COVID-19 via air travel which reduces the risk of further spread of the virus and its variants in the country," Adetifa added in the statement.

“Since the launch of the NITP, it has been updated frequently and recently, there was an upgrade in October 2021, to enable a more user-friendly experience for travellers, laboratories, and other users."