Airlines risk $3,500 fine per passenger without COVID-19 test result

The Federal Government on Monday said airlines would be fined $3,500 per passenger for airlifting passengers without negative COVID-19 test results as it prepared to open international flights.

The Coordinator, Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Dr Sani Aliyu, said this at the daily briefing of the PTF on in Abuja.

Speaking on the new protocols that would start from August 29, the coordinator said it was expected that passengers coming into the country must present a PCR COVID-19 test result that was within seven days.

Aliyu also said that when a passenger arrives Nigeria and presents a PCR negative result, the passenger is expected to self-isolate for seven days and submit his or her COVID-19 test before reuniting with the community.

On the concerns over cases of passengers coming into the country with a negative COVID-19 test result and testing positive in Nigeria, he said that PTF was studying the situation and would take a decision when the need arose.

Aliyu said that health workers would monitor passengers on self-isolation and if any passenger failed to present themself for testing after seven days, the immigration would assist and proper sanctions would be melted to the passenger.

The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, had said the country would ban flights from countries that have placed bans on flights from Nigeria when the international flights resume.

Sirika said that meetings have already been communicated with the international carriers where these decisions had been revealed to them.

The minister, while speaking on preparation so far, said, "We are almost there. Just a few things to be done but we will be ready in the coming days.

"By Monday, we will have a comprehensive details for the resumption."

"About 1,280 passengers will be allowed in on a daily basis in Abuja and Lagos airports, which have been billed to start first when the international flights resume."