The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) on Thursday directed all airlines operating international and regional flights into Nigeria to issue Health Declaration Forms to their passengers including crew members before arriving at Nigerian airports.
The order followed reports that some airlines operating international and regional flights into Nigeria to provide Health Declaration Forms (Passengers self-reporting forms).
NewsGazette reported on Monday the frustration expressed by the Kano State government that airlines arriving at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport were not issuing screening forms containing travel history of passengers as part of measures to check the spread of coronavirus in the country.
The commissioner for health, Dr. Aminu Tsanyawa stated at a press conference that airlines were supposed to issue a form to each passenger on board to ascertain their traveling history before arriving at the airport but some do not comply.
“There is a form that is supposed to be filled by each passenger even while onboard for the traveling history of that individual for the past two to three weeks. Some of the airlines are not complying,” he said.
The NCAA, in a letter issued to all airlines and stakeholders said airlines that failed to issue the forms would be sanctioned.
It urged airlines to remind passengers to provide factual address and phone numbers to enhance contact tracing in case there is need to do so.
“The health declaration forms (passenger self-reporting forms) will be collected and evaluated by the personnel of Port Health Services on the arrival of the passengers and crew members alike.
“Airlines are to collect the health declaration forms (passenger self-reporting forms) from the Port Health Services at the various International Airports of the country.
“Failure to comply with the directive by any airline will attract severe sanctions,” said the spokesman for NCAA, Mr. Sam Adurogboye in a statement.
