FG Cancels PCR COVID 19 Test for Inbound Travellers, Provides Replacement

• The Federal Government has announced that passengers coming to the country no longer have to take a PCR COVID 19 test before departure

• This comes amid complaints from Nigerians regarding the need for a PCR test when other countries had already made it nonmandatory

• The pre-departure test has been replaced with a free rapid antigen test, which will be carried out at the airport upon arrival

The federal government of Nigeria has relaxed its COVID 19 rules for inbound passengers to the country.

A statement released by the Special Assistant on Digital/New Media to President Muhammadu Buhari, Tolu Ogunlesi disclosed that travelers arriving in Nigeria would no longer be required to take a pre-departure PCR COVID-19 test.

This comes after many Nigerians have questioned the importance of the PCR Test when the law had already been dropped by most countries.

The announcement by the media aide claims that the new directive will be implemented from Monday, 4th April 2022.

Instead of taking the  PCR COVID-19 Test before departure, inbound travelers will now be administered a free rapid antigen test as long as they’re fully vaccinated.

Read also: England Rolls Out 4th Jab of COVID 19 vaccine

Passengers who are unvaccinated or only partially vaccinated will however still need to take the COVID 19 PCR test 48 hours before departure or carry out a Day 2 and Day 7 test after arrival.

Such passengers will be expected to also pay for their PCR tests through the travel platform.

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