FG makes possession of yellow card mandatory for international travels

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) in line with the directive from the Federal Ministry of Health has mandated airlines operating international and regional flights to commence the implementation of the use of the yellow card as a requirement for travel.

In a letter to the affected airlines signed by the General Manager, Aeromedical Standards, Dr. Wilfred Haggai on behalf of the director general, NCAA explains that this is coming on the heels of the review of the operationalization of Nigeria point of entry policy on the prevention and control of cross -border transmission of yellow fever.

According to the letter, the review of the policy has arisen because of the compelling priority of the ongoing entry screening at points of entry by point health services for COVID-19.

“The entry screening of passengers due to COVID-19 outbreak will be prioritized by the port health services until the outbreak has been effectively contained.

“To this end, passengers coming into the country without documented proof of vaccination against yellow fever and valid yellow card will not be allowed to disembark. And for passengers departing Nigeria, a valid yellow card will be required for boarding,” the NCAA letter stated.

The agency has therefore, called on all airlines to communicate the policy to their passengers, disclosing that the policy review took effect from March 11.

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”All passengers coming to Nigeria who do not have a yellow card are to be allowed to board. When they arrive Nigeria the port health services will determine whether they require vaccination for yellow fever or not,” the letter added.

The yellow fever card also called the international health certificate is an important document which is given to a person after administered with a vaccine against yellow fever.

However, the Nigeria Immigration Service at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos has commenced the enforcement of the yellow card directive and passengers without the card are turned back at the immigration counter if it is not part of the document requested.