President Muhammadu Buhari’s regime has imposed fresh rules on airlines that include deporting passengers without a 72-hour PCR test result.

The Presidential Steering Committee said incoming passengers must now perform a COVID-19, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test three days before boarding.

The test detects the presence of a virus and can also detect fragments of the virus even in someone no longer infected.

The PSC chairman Boss Mustapha announced this in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.

He said, ”Passengers must perform a COVID-19 PCR test not more than three days (72 hours) before boarding. PCR test done more than 72 hours before departure is not valid, and a person will not be allowed to board. Rapid antigen or antibody tests are not acceptable; only PCR tests can be used for this purpose.

“Test validity commences from the time of sample collection. For passengers with multiple connections before arrival in Nigeria.”

He added that the PCR test must be valid within 72 hours of boarding from the first point of departure, urging passengers to bring along an electronic or hard copy of their COVID-19 PCR test for presentation at the departure airport and upon arrival in Nigeria.

The PSC chairman also warned the government would deport foreigners without PCR test results, insisting that all intending passengers (including diplomats and children less than 10 years old) must register via an online national travel portal (Nigeria International Travel Portal – https://nitp.ncdc.gov.ng).

”Foreign passport and non-resident in Nigeria, arriving in Nigeria without a valid PCR result (either no PCR result or a forged COVID-19 PCR result or a non-PCR COVID-19 test will be denied entry into the country and arrangements made for immediate deportation at a cost to the carrier airline.

“Passengers who are Nigerians or holders of a permanent resident permit will be allowed entry. Airlines shall be fined $3,500 per passenger for failure to comply with any of the pre-boarding requirements; airlines who consistently fail to comply with the above requirements may be banned from coming to Nigeria,” stated Mr Mustapha.