The Federal Government has eased the travel protocols for fully vaccinated passengers arriving in the country.
According to the new protocols, fully vaccinated passengers would not be required to observe the seven-day isolation but would do a COVID-19 PCR test on the second day of arrival.
The Chairman of the Presidential Steering Committee and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, disclosed this in a statement on Friday titled, ‘Release of revised international travel protocol into Nigeria’.
He said unvaccinated and partially vaccinated passengers would do both the seven-day isolation and COVID-19 PCR test on days two and seven after arrival.
Mustapha, however, said the revised protocol would take effect from October 25.
It partly read, “Travellers arriving in Nigeria must present a negative COVID-19 PCR test result conducted not more than 72hours before boarding. Unvaccinated and partially vaccinated in-bound passengers will be required to observe a mandatory seven-day self-isolation in addition to a COVID-19 PCR test on days two and seven after arrival.
“Fully vaccinated in-bound passengers will not be required to observe the mandatory seven-day isolation but will be required to do a COVID-19 PCR test on day two of arrival.
“Persons arriving on business trips or on official duties staying less than seven days in Nigeria must be fully vaccinated and produce a negative COVID-19 PCR result 72hours before boarding; and conduct a PCR test on day two of their arrival.”
It said the review of the protocol was based on science, national experience, and global developments.
Meanwhile, the National Economic Council on Friday said the Ministry of Health was planning to establish oxygen plants across the 36 states of the federation.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State made this known to State House correspondents after a virtual NEC meeting.
The virtual meeting anchored from the Presidential Villa was presided over by the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo.
Umahi said Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta, who chaired the NEC Adhoc committee interfacing with the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 to ease the lockdown of the economy, presented a report to the Council.
Umahi said NEC also received states’ performance report on COVID-19 from the National Centre for Disease Control.
He disclosed that the council was also updated on the global situation of COVID-19, saying there were “over 237 million confirmed cases and over 4.8 million deaths due to COVID-19. There are now over 6.3 billion vaccine doses administered.
Umahi added, “Nigeria is still in the first wave of vaccination and vaccination tools will improve as the country receives additional vaccines. COVID-19 cases have declined by 7.5 per cent over the last week.”
