Health Alert: U.S. Mission Nigeria (11 June 2020)
Location: Nigeria
Event: Update to Nigeria’s Quarantine Protocol
Effective June 8, Nigeria’s Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 has announced updated quarantine protocol. Whereas previous protocol required persons arriving in Nigeria to quarantine for 14 days at a government-selected hotel, the new protocol stipulates persons arriving in Nigeria must self-isolate for 14 days at a location of their choosing in the City/State of their point of entry (i.e. Lagos or Abuja). Travelers will have their passports retained by the Nigeria Immigration Service throughout the isolation period. If the traveler’s final destination is not Lagos or Abuja, the traveler must make arrangements for accommodation at his/her own expense in their city of arrival.
Please note that international flight operations remain suspended in Nigeria. Please see below for the Presidential Task Force’s updated quarantine protocol in full.
Pre-Departure/On Board
- Passengers arriving/returning to Nigeria must have tested NEGATIVE for COVID-19 via a PCR test (i.e. a molecular vice rapid test) in country of departure. The test must be within two weeks of departure and preferably not less than five days before departure.
- Tests done more than two weeks before departure are not valid and persons will not be allowed to board.
- On board, passengers are required to fill in the Health Declaration/Self-Reporting Form and the Sample Collection Time Allocation Form.
- Passengers should ensure that the information/contact details provided on the form are correct, verifiable, and reachable on the phone number and address provided.
On Arrival in Nigeria
- Upon arrival in Nigeria, passengers shall queue in an orderly manner. Disembarkation will be done systematically and in batches to avoid overcrowding.
- Passengers will proceed for health screening at the point of entry.
- The Health Declaration Form will be assessed and collected along with the Sample Collection Form.
- Passengers are required to:
- Keep their face masks on;
- Perform hand hygiene;
- Ensure respiratory/cough etiquette (cough into tissue or sleeve/bent elbow and discard the used tissue safely into a bin); and
- Always observe and maintain physical distancing measures
- Persons who have arrived in Nigeria are advised to self-isolate/quarantine for 14 days and to remain in the City/State where the point of entry is located (i.e. Lagos or Abuja) for the duration of the isolation/quarantine period.
- If not resident in Lagos or Abuja, passengers shall make arrangements for accommodation at their own cost. Please note the Government of Nigeria will not be responsible for providing accommodation nor transportation to the place of abode.
- Passengers will be cleared through Nigeria Immigration System’s Migrants Identification Data Analysis System (MIDAS) and their passports retained until successful completion of the 14-day self-isolation/quarantine.
- Passengers will be given an appointment time and date to present themselves at the Sample Collection Centre located in Lagos or Abuja for a repeat COVID-19 PCR test within 72 hours of arrival.
- Passengers must provide their full and correct address and phone number before exiting the airport. They must comply with self-isolation/quarantine guidelines and ensure that they can be reached and located during the isolation period.
- Persons who are unable to remain in Lagos or Abuja throughout the period of self-quarantine may return to their States of residence ONLY after:
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- They have had their samples collected and are NEGATIVE for COVID-19; and
- They have provided public health officials their full and correct address and phone number.
- Persons who have completed the 14 days of self-isolation/quarantine will undergo an exit interview. Their details will be forwarded to the Nigeria Immigration Service for release of their passports. Alternative arrangements can be made to collect passports via special delivery (e.g. via DHL).
Evacuation Flight Registration
The U.S. Mission continues to track requests for repatriation. Please note the Embassy and Consulate General are unable to guarantee additional evacuation flights.
The U.S. Mission released new evacuation questionnaires on April 22, 2020. If you are interested in taking a future evacuation flight and have not done so already, please CAREFULLY and ACCURATELY complete the appropriate questionnaire below. EACH TRAVELER in your party must complete his/her own questionnaire to be included in our data:
New Lagos Evacuation Flight Questionnaire
New Abuja Evacuation Flight Questionnaire
Register for STEP
We ask all those seeking to receive updates from the U.S. Embassy in Abuja or Consulate General in Lagos to register for the Smart Travel Enrollment Program (STEP) at step.state.gov.
To receive updates about Nigeria, you must select Nigeria as your destination under the “Add a Trip/Residence” section.
Actions to Take:
· Consult the CDC website for the most up-to-date information.
· For the most recent information on what you can do to reduce your risk of contracting COVID-19, please see the CDC’s latest recommendations.
· Visit the COVID-19 crisis page on travel.state.gov for the latest information.
· Check with your airlines, cruise lines, or travel operators regarding any updated information about your travel plans and/or restrictions.
· Visit our Embassy webpage on COVID-19 for information on conditions in Nigeria.
· Visit the Department of Homeland Security’s website on the latest travel restrictions to the United States
Assistance:
U.S. Embassy Abuja, Nigeria
Plot 1075 Diplomatic Drive, Central District Area
+234 (9) 461-4000 during business hours; after hours press zero (0)
U.S. Consulate General Lagos, Nigeria
2 Walter Carrington Crescent, Victoria Island
+234 (1) 461-3400 during business hours and after hours
State Department – Consular Affairs
888-407-4747 or 202-501-4444
Enroll in Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts.