COVID-19 Precautionary Measures in Nigeria (30 November Update)

Can a resident enter the country?

• Yes

• Citizens and residents are allowed to enter.

Can a foreigner enter the country?

• Yes

• Foreigners are allowed to enter Nigeria.

Is transit allowed through the country?

• Yes

• Transit through Nigeria is allowed.

Is a test required on arrival?

• Yes

• On arrival at the airport, temperature checks will be done. If a traveller’s temperature exceeds 38 degrees Celsius, travellers will be required to undergo secondary screening for COVID-19 symptoms.

• Before boarding any flight for Nigeria, travellers will undergo thermal screening and will be questioned for COVID-19 symptoms. Anyone found with signs or symptoms of COVID-19 will not be allowed to board the flight.

Is a test certificate allowed?

• Yes with exceptions

• Test certificates from accredited laboratories are accepted. The certificate must be in English.

Test certificate required?

• Yes with exceptions

• Travellers must have a negative PCR test certificate obtained within 120 hours (five days) of departure and preferably within 72 hours of boarding the flight.

• Non-Nigerian passengers without the test report will be denied entry and sent back to the place of embarkation at a cost to the airlines. Airlines boarding passengers without the test report will be sanctioned and fined per passenger.

• Passengers below ten years of age are exempt from the PCR testing procedures.

Is quarantine required on arrival?

• Yes

• Passengers must self-isolate for seven days. On the seventh day, another PCR test will be required. With a negative test result, passengers will be able to exit the isolation period on the 8th day.

• Diplomats should upload a negative PCR test report in the portal before departure, but are not required to pay for the test performed in Nigeria.

• During the self-isolation period, health officials will take follow-up tests, and in the case of a positive result, passengers will be subject to further medical care.

• Passengers with symptoms, even after having a negative PCR test certificate, will be moved to a government-monitored location for quarantine.

Entry form required?

• Yes

• Before boarding a flight for Nigeria, passengers must complete a health declaration and self-reporting form and upload the negative PCR test report online. This form is available here.

• Passengers will receive a confirmation email which will include a QR code. Passengers can take a print-out or download the receipt.

• If any passenger fails to receive QR code after making payment, they are advised to visit this link to retrieve the QR code instantly.

• For queries related to payments, testing, technology, laboratory and any other information, click here.

• If any traveller does not receive the QR code or are unable to process a payment online, they will be allowed to board flights for Nigeria after showing a valid PCR test report. The traveller must pay the charges for the test on arrival and may experience longer delays upon arrival.

Airline restrictions

• Moderate

• Domestic and international flights have resumed services.

• International flights have resumed services at Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport in Abuja and Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.

• Domestic flights are allowed to operate from all the airports without any prior approval from the government.

• Nigeria will allow flights from countries that have reciprocity.

• Airlines such as Middle-East Airlines, British Airways, Delta Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines, EgyptAir, Air Peace, Virgin Atlantic, Asky, Africa World Airways, Air Cote-d’Ivoire, Kenya Airways, Emirates, Rwanda Air, Etihad and Turkish airlines are allowed to provide services to and from Nigeria.

• Flights to West African countries have resumed. Air France, KLM, Lufthansa and Qatar Airways are allowed to operate.

• Qatar Airways has resumed three weekly flights to and from Abuja.

• An air bubble agreement has been signed between Nigeria and India, allowing flights to operate between these two countries.

• Air India has resumed flights to and from Nigeria.

• Border restrictions

• Significant

• Land and sea borders remain closed to foreign nationals. This measure does not apply to citizens and residents of Nigeria. Freight transport is not affected. Land borders will reopen soon for trade purpose.

• Resident permits that have expired on or after 22 March 2020 are still considered valid.

• Passport and migrant registrations has resumed by the Nigerian immigration department.

• Individuals with a visa that expired before the start of lockdown will be penalized, however, individuals with visas that expired during the restrictions will not be penalized for overstaying.

• All travellers entering Nigeria via any ports will be required to provide full contact details along with the address in Nigeria.

• UK Emergency Travel Documents (ETDs) can be used for entry to, airside transit through and exit from Nigeria.

Curfew restrictions

• Moderate

• The nationwide curfew from midnight to 04:00 will remain effective until further notice.

• Individual states may introduce or lift their movement restrictions with short notice.

Social distancing restrictions

• Moderate

• Gatherings of more than 50 people are banned except in workplaces.

• The guidelines under the Phase-III reopening can be found here.

Internal travel restrictions

• Moderate

• Inter-state travelling is permitted except during curfew hours of 00:00 to 04:00.

• States in Nigeria can introduce their own restrictions on movement and these can occur on short notice.

• Public transportation is running with a limited capacity.

• Rail services have resumed with public health protocols.

Non-essential shops open?

• Yes

• Markets can open all day. A task force was formed in each market to monitor compliance with the public health rules.

• Essential services are allowed to remain open outside of curfew hours.

Accommodations open?

• Yes

• Hotels are allowed to open.

Restaurants open?

• Yes with exceptions

• Some states allow dine-in services at restaurants while other states only allow restaurants to provide take away service.

Bars and cafes open?

• No

• Nightclubs and bars are closed.

Beaches and tourism sites open?

• Yes

• Beaches are allowed to open with safety protocols.

• Tourism sites are open.

Museums and heritage sites open?

• Yes

• Museums in Nigeria are open.

Personal care services open?

• Yes

• Spas and personal care services are open.

Places of worship open?

• Yes

• Mosques and churches have opened. Religious gatherings are allowed with social distancing restrictions.

Events allowed?

• Yes

• Events are allowed in outdoor spaces.

Masks required in public?

• Yes

• Wearing face masks and maintaining social distancing are mandatory in public places.

• Government and commercial premises must maintain the requirement of “No Mask, No Entry. No Mask, No Service”.

Other

• Cinemas, gyms, and amusement parks are allowed to operate with limited capacity.

• Schools have reopened with guidelines.

Tanácsadás

The COVID-19 epidemic is constantly changing worldwide. This information is subject to change as the situation evolves. Travel and border restrictions may change with little or no notice. Some countries are beginning to remove some restrictions gradually. Check with your airline, booking agent, or country’s embassy for information on your specific travel plans.