Omicron Scare: Nigerian Govt Announces New Travel Protocols

The New Diplomat
Writer
Omicron Scare: Nigerian Govt Announces New Travel Protocols-19: PSC Issues Revised Int'l Travel Protocol Into Nigeria

Ad

King Charles, Pope Leo pray together in historic first

King Charles III on Thursday became the first head of the Church of England to pray publicly with a pope since the schism with Rome 500 years ago, in a service led by Leo XIV. The 76-year-old monarch and his wife, Queen Camilla, joined the US-born pope in the Sistine Chapel for a 30-minute service…

Tears as Ghana’s Ex-First Lady Nana Konadu Rawlings Dies at 76

By Abiola Olawale Ghana is shrouded in grief on Thursday, October 23, 2025, following the passing of a former First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, who died at the age of 76 in Accra. ​Sources close to the family confirmed that the former First Lady, the widow of the late President Jerry John Rawlings, passed away…

PDP Crisis: BoT Members Dismiss Anyanwu’s Forgery Claims,  Says It’s “Baseless and Misleading”

The internal crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has continued to deepen following a sharp rebuttal from the party's Board of Trustees (BoT) against allegations of signature forgery made by its National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu. ​The BoT, in a statement issued on Thursday, dismissed Anyanwu's claims as "baseless, misleading, and reprehensible," insisting the…

Ad

The Federal Government on Friday announced a reviewed protocol for all international travels in a bid to mitigate the risk of spreading Omicron, the new strain of COVID-19.

The Chairman, Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19, and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, in a statement issued on Friday announced that out-bound travellers are required to provide either valid evidence of full vaccination against COVID-19 or negative PCR test results within 48hrs from the time of boarding.

Mustapha, in the statement also added that all travellers coming into the country have now been mandated to provide a COVID-19 PCR test within 48hrs before departure as well as post-arrival day COVID-19 PCR test.

In-bound passengers that have not been vaccinated or partially vaccinated are also required to self-isolate for 7 days.

The SGF who said the new travel protocol will take effect from December 5, added that the effort is in line with the government commitment to containing the spread of the new variant.

The statement reads, “The Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 has reviewed the International Travel Protocol of October 22, 2021.

“All passengers arriving in Nigeria are expected to provide evidence of and comply with the following rules: COVID-19 PCR test to be done within 48hrs before departure, post-arrival day 2 COVID-19 PCR test, self-isolation for 7 days (for unvaccinated and partially vaccinated individuals), and day 7 post-arrival exit PCR test (For unvaccinated and partially vaccinated individuals).”

This is coming on the heels of the discovery of three cases of Omicron in Nigeria.

Omicron — identified as a “variant of concern” by the World Health Organisation (WHO) — was recently detected by South African authorities.

According to WHO, Omicron has since been detected in at least 23 countries including the UK, the Netherlands, Germany, Italy, Denmark, Belgium, Botswana, Israel, Australia and Hong Kong.

Ad

X whatsapp