Aviation: Nigeria Modifies Mandatory e-Yellow Card regime days after implementation due to Coronavirus

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has reviewed the implementation of the mandatory e-Yellow card regime, days after announcing its immediate operation. The announcement was made known in a communiqué dated March 11, 2020, issued from office of the Director General of the NCAA to airlines operating regional and international flights into the country.

Only last week, ATQNews.com had reported NCAA’s decision to implement the e-Yellow card regime which would make it compulsory for all travellers to and from Nigeria to obtain the e-Yellow card before embarking on their journey. In a statement the Acting Director General of NCAA, Capt. A.M. Sidi, had stated there is an urgent need to fully operationalize the policy due to the on-going outbreaks of Yellow Fever in the country.

Stating further that full compliance with the policy will enhance health security in Nigeria and support the global strategy to eliminate Yellow Fever epidemic, Capt Sidi said “Airlines operating regional and international flights into and out of the country are hereby informed of the Ministerial approval of the Nigeria Points of Entry (POEs) Policy on the prevention and control at cross border transmission of Yellow Fever in Nigeria.”

In the recent communiqué signed by Dr. W. Haggai, General Manager (Aeromedical Standards) on behalf of the Director General, NCAA says the “review of the policy has arisen because of the competing priority of the on-going entry screening at our Points of Entry by the Port Health Services for CovID-19.”

You can read the full statement below.

TO: AIRLINES OPERATING REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS INTO NIGERIA

SUBJECT: RE: OPERATIONALIZATION OF NIGERIA POINT OF ENTRY ON THE PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF CROSS BORDER TRANSMISSION OF YELLOW FEVER

Our letter Ref. No: NCAA/DG/AMS/74/VOLI/44 dated 10 February 2020 on the above subject refers.

The Authority is in receipt of a letter dated 11h March 2020 from the Federal Ministry of Health reviewing the implementation of the Operationalization of Nigeria Point of Entry policy on the prevention and control of cross border transmission of Yellow Fever.

The review of the policy has arisen because of the competing priority of the on-going entry screening at our Points of Entry by the Port Health Services for CovID-19. The entry screening of passengers due to the CovID-19 outbreak will be prioritized by the Port Health services until the outbreak has been effectively contained.

Consequent upon the above, I have been directed by the Director General to inform Airlines operating Regional and International flights into and out of Nigeria to implement the reviewed policy of the Federal Ministry of Health as follows:

1. Passengers coming to Nigeria without documented proof of vaccination against Yellow Fever (valid yellow card) be allowed to board but be advised that they will be vaccinated accordingly at Points of Entry and the process for obtaining the e-Yellow card will be initiated.
2. For Passengers departing Nigeria, a valid Yellow card will be required for boarding: and
3. Airlines are to communicate this policy to their passengers accordingly.
4. This Policy review is with effect from 11h March 2020.

Your strict and immediate compliance is hereby required.