The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has directed foreign airlines to board passengers travelling to Nigeria who are unable to show evidence of payment for a repeat COVID-19 test.

The Director-General of the NCAA, Musa Nuhu in a letter to all airlines operating international flights, said the decision was taken due to challenges facing some travellers to Nigeria.

According to Nuhu, travellers are now finding it difficult to fill their health and travel history into Nigeria International Travel Portal (NITP).

As part of COVID-19 rules, passengers pay for a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test, which they are expected to do after seven days of quarantine.

In a letter dated September 11, 2021, the DG explained that the presidential steering committee on COVID-19 had been notified of the challenges facing travellers.

Earlier, foreign travellers were required to show proof of payment for their COVID-19 PCR test before boarding.

According to the NCAA DG, such passengers would now be required to make payment for the repeat day-7 COVID-19 PCR test at their destination airport in Nigeria.