Travel News

By Wole Oyebade

*Govt extends ban on travellers from Brazil, Turkey, India and S’Africa

In lieu of the fourth wave of the coronavirus pandemic, the Federal Government has reviewed in-country safety protocol, with restrictions of passengers from some countries taking effect from July 2 (today).

The ‘provisional quarantine protocol for travellers arriving Nigeria’, dated June 30, 2021, prohibits travellers from the quartet of Brazil, Turkey, India and South Africa.

Contrary to airlines and some countries’ advocacy for vaccination and antigen test as entry requirements, the Federal Government has stuck to mandatory polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test, quarantine and self-isolation for all arriving passengers.

While evaders of any of these conditions shall be prosecuted, defaulting airlines are liable to fines in excess of $3,500 per illegal entrant or default.

Amid the apprehension of the fourth wave of coronavirus, driven by the Delta variant that began in India, countries are beginning to take fresh safety measures.

The local protocol, signed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, stated that non-Nigerian passport holders and non-residents, who visited Brazil, India, Turkey or South Africa within 14 days preceding travel to Nigeria, shall be denied entry into Nigeria.

“This regulation, however, does not apply to passengers who transit through these countries. The following measures shall apply to airlines and passengers who fail to comply with the above: airlines shall mandatorily pay a penalty of $3,500 for each defaulting passenger. Non-Nigerians will be denied entry and returned to the country of embarkation at a cost to the Airline. Nigerians and those with permanent resident permits, who visited Brazil, India, Turkey and South Africa within 14 days preceding travel to Nigeria shall be made to undergo seven days of mandatory quarantine in a government-approved facility at the point-of-entry city and at a cost to the passenger.

“The following conditions shall apply to such passengers: within 24 hours of arrival shall take a COVID-19 PCR test; if positive, the passenger shall be admitted within a government-approved treatment centre, in line with national treatment protocols; and if Negative, the passenger shall continue to remain in quarantine and made to undergo a repeat PCR test on day seven of their quarantine.

“Passengers who provided false or misleading contact information will be liable to prosecution; and persons who willfully disregard or refuse to comply with directions of Port-Health staff, security agencies or evade quarantine shall be prosecuted in accordance with the law,” the advisory stated in part.

Passengers departing for Nigeria are mandated to perform a COVID-19 PCR test not more than three days or 72 hours before boarding. PCR test done more than 72 hours before departure is not valid and the 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, the PCR test must be valid within 72 hours of boarding from the first point of departure.

“Passengers must bring along an electronic or hard copy of their COVID-19 PCR test for presentation at the departure airport and upon arrival in Nigeria.”

Prior to boarding for Nigeria, passengers are mandated to present two documents at their point of departure to be allowed to board: A negative COVID-19 PCR test administered within 72 hours of departure and a Permit to Travel Certificate/QR Code – generated from the Nigeria International Travel Portal on completion of a health questionnaire, uploading of a negative COVID-19 PCR.

Airlines that board passengers without any of the two documents are liable to sanctions. Passengers, who are non-Nigerians, will be refused entry and returned to the point of embarkation at a cost to the airline, while passengers who are Nigerians or holders of the permanent residence permit will be allowed entry but quarantined.

“In addition, passengers arriving with forged (fake) COVID-19 PCR results shall be referred for prosecution. 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.

“All passengers arriving in Nigeria will be required to go through the routine Port Health screening and present electronic or print-out evidence of pre-boarding COVID-19 PCR test and the Permit to Travel Certificate/QR Code. Present their international passports for clearance through the Nigerian Immigration Service System’s Migrants Identification Data Analysis System (MIDAS). Proceed on mandatory seven days self-isolation/quarantine in their selected in-country destination,” the protocol read in part.

BY  Chinedu Eze

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has said everything is set for international flight operations to resume at the Akanu Ibiam Airport, Enugu, even as it awaits the federal government’s approval to reopen the airport.

THISDAY learnt that the Airport Council International (ACI) Africa has given health certificate to the airport for meeting Covid-19 protocols requirements. The agency said other logistics and safety issues have been completed, so the airport can now receive international flights.

The Managing Director of FAAN, Captain Rabiu Yadudu told THISDAY that international flight service was supposed to have resumed four weeks ago, but there were minor hitches that must be corrected. These he said the agency had corrected and awaiting report of work from the airport, adding that issues concerning security had been completed.

“Flight operation was supposed to resume just about three or four weeks ago, but have some minor hitches but they are very critical hitches. And we are expecting a report this week. If we get the report within a day or within 48 hours we can work on it.

“The hitches are not on security but on the facility. We have our standards. There are some things you can look at the airport and think they are working fine or you don’t need to improve but based on our own regulations and standards, we know we have to take them up to that standard, but the passengers might not really understand. We have to make sure those critical facilities are top standard,” he said.

The FAAN boss also explained that earlier in June the agency had completed issues relating to Covid-19 protocols and had gone far in completing the requirement for fire cover for international operations. According to him, there was a need to close the airport in order to work on safety-critical facilities and put them to standard before reopening it.

“We have done with protocol issues; fire cover issue is the one we are dealing with and we have already gone very far in resolving it. That is why I said we are just waiting for a report. “We don’t want to say that despite the pressure on us we are just going to commence operation, it is a technical reason which has to do with safety of operations. Those were what caused the delay in reopening the airport,” he said. Yadudu also noted that the airport has to be put in good standard, including regards to safety, which was the major reason for the delay.

“We have the responsibility to ensure that we expedite work to ensure that safety parameters are met before opening. Closing the airport till now is not something we are happy about, but we have to do so in the interest of all stakeholders, all Nigerians, and FAAN itself,” Yadudu said.

However, THISDAY learnt on Wednesday that every work at the airport has been completed, but awaiting the Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, to give a go ahead for resumption of international flight operations at the airport.

“I am sure the airport will be re-opened. All necessary things are in place now. We have received ACI health certification for the airport. But are airlines ready to start going there?”a senior official in FAAN asked. THISDAY also learnt that Ethiopian Airlines, which is the only international carrier that operates to Enugu, is ready to resume flights to the airport, once government orders for the reopening of flights.

“Airlines are waiting for opportunities to start operation and Ethiopian Airlines is ready. Once the airport is reopened the airline will resume flights. Let them declare the airport open,” official close to the airline told THISDAY.

In August last year, the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu was reopened after rehabilitation work on the runway was completed, but the international operations to the airport was closed along with that of the airports in Kano, Port Harcourt due to Covid-19 pandemic, but in May the other airports resumed international services, but that of Enugu was delayed for the aforementioned upgrade of critical facilities.

Air travellers who use the airport have expressed worry that it remained the only international airport that was yet to be reopened but now that FAAN had acknowledged that work has been completed, it is hoped that the Minister would approve resumption of international flights from the airport.

BY  Juliana Ajayi

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria has announced the automation of Hajj/Cargo terminal in Lagos airport.

It announced this in a statement titled ‘FAAN set to go live on Hajj/Cargo Terminal Park automation’.

According to the FAAN, the terminal users willing to drive into designated car parks within the terminal would have to enter through the newly built automated gate.

“The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria hereby informs the general public that the parking process at the Hajj/Cargo terminal, Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos has been automated,” it said.

It also noted that in preparation for the actual Go Live, which had been slated for Monday, July 5, the authority had deployed a modern car park solution with a distinct entry gate and an exit gate.

Users of the terminal that want to drive into designated car parks within the terminal will now have to enter through the newly built automated gate, from where details of their vehicles would be captured electronically on the parking tickets that will be issued to them.

FAAN said, “The terminal users will take the tickets to any of the three designated payment points for payment whenever they are ready to leave the terminal.

“After payment of the parking fee, they can now drive out of the car park and exit.

“To ensure the seamless facilitation of the process, the authority has put necessary signages in strategic places to guide and direct users of the terminal.”

It also said the FAAN was committed to her core values of safety, security and comfort.

“We are using this opportunity to appeal to users of the terminal to comply with this new change in the interest of safety and security,” it added.

Ryanair’s passenger numbers surged in June, with the easing of travel restrictions and successful rollout of the Covid-19 vaccination programme prompting a flood of holidaymakers to seek out summer sunshine in Italy, Spain and Portugal.

The no-frills airline, which in June reported the biggest annual loss in its 35-year history, carried 5.3 million passengers on 38,000 flights last month. In June 2020, Ryanair carried only 400,000 passengers.

There has been a steady increase in passengers for Europe’s biggest airline in recent months – in April there were 1 million travellers and 1.8 million in May – as the easing of travel restrictions across parts of the continent fuels a gradual recovery in the hard-hit aviation industry.

Ryanair said the most popular destinations booked by holidaymakers in June were Italy, Spain and Portugal.

The green shoots of recovery are also evident in traffic figures issued by Ryanair’s rival Wizz Air, which carried 1.55 million passengers last month. This is more than triple the 502,000 passengers who flew in the same month last year.

Last month, Ryanair and Manchester Airports Group, the UK’s largest airport group, which also operates Stansted and East Midlands airports, launched a legal challenge calling for transparency in the government’s handling of its contentious traffic light travel system for grading countries safe to visit.

Ryanair and MAG argue that ministers have not been clear about how the government has made decisions regarding the categorisation of countries as red, amber or green, which is undermining consumer confidence to book summer holidays.

Earlier this year the UK’s advertising watchdog banned Ryanair’s controversial “jab and go” holiday TV campaign, with the Advertising Standards Authority saying it encouraged the public to act irresponsibly once they had received a coronavirus vaccination.

Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell, said the passenger number reports from Ryanair and Wizz Air boosted share prices in the sector on Friday.

“Airline stocks did their best to fly higher following encouraging numbers from the sector. Wizz Air managed to fill nearly two-thirds of its seats on aircraft in service during June, while Ryanair flew nearly three times as many people that month versus May,” Mould said.

“Under the circumstances, these are positive numbers. However, the airline business model is built on filling planes near or at capacity and then scooping up extra fees on top for everything from early boarding to storing bags.

“The sector needs a continuous flow of people through airports and ongoing Covid restrictions imposed by various governments around the world mean the industry is still some way off from operating smoothly.”

LONDON (AP) — Prime Minister Boris Johnson will provide an update Monday on plans to ease COVID-19 restrictions in England, amid speculation that he will scrap rules that require people to wear masks in many public settings.

Johnson is scheduled to hold a press conference on the government’s current outlook for “freedom day’’ — the plan to end the remaining coronavirus restrictions on business and social interactions on July 19. A final decision will be announced on July 12 based on a series of tests, including vaccination rates and the risks posed by new virus variants.

The British government, which put into place one of the longest lockdowns in the world, has lifted restrictions in a series of steps that began with reopening schools in March. The fourth and final stage was delayed last month to provide time for more people to be vaccinated amid concerns about the rapid spread of the delta variant, which was first discovered in India.

“Today we will set out how we can restore people’s freedoms when we reach step four,’’ Johnson said in a statement ahead of his news conference. “But I must stress that the pandemic is not over and that cases will continue to rise over the coming weeks.’’

Some doctors have expressed concerns about easing restrictions further as infection rates continue to rise. But there hasn’t been an equivalent increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations or deaths, emboldening ministers who believe that Britain must learn to live with the virus and that the time is right to end the remaining restrictions.

The number of confirmed new infections in the U.K. over the past seven days rose 67% from the previous week but the 122 coronavirus-related deaths reported were two fewer than the previous week.

Public health officials attribute the divergence of the figures to the success of Britain’s vaccination program. Almost 86% of U.K. adults have received at least one vaccine dose and 63.4% are fully vaccinated.

The British government is preparing to offer a third dose of vaccine to everyone over 50, as well as vulnerable younger people, to boost their immunity over the winter months, following interim advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunization. Final advice is expected in the coming months.

In addition to the rules on wearing face masks, Johnson will lay out plans for easing rules on social distancing and working from home, his office said. He will also discuss the government’s plans for certifying people's vaccination status or their recent COVID-19 test results with what are commonly known as vaccine passports.

“As we begin to learn to live with this virus, we must all continue to carefully manage the risks from COVID and exercise judgement when going about our lives,” Johnson said.

(Bloomberg) --

The United Arab Emirates has overtaken Seychelles to become the world’s most vaccinated nation, according to Bloomberg’s vaccine tracker.

The Persian Gulf nation has so far administered 15.5 million doses, enough to cover 72.1% of its mostly expatriate population of 10 million based on a two-dose regimen. The Seychelles has administered enough doses to cover 71.7% of its population of just under 100,000.

Cases in the UAE have remained elevated, though. Last week, the U.S. raised its travel warning for the country to its highest level, citing a “very high level” of coronavirus. Saudi Arabia has temporarily prohibited travel and the UAE has been on a “red list” for travel to the U.K. since January.

Daily infections have hovered at around 2,000 since March from a peak of about 4,000 in February. The UAE, though, tests more people per capita than most nations and has one of the lowest fatality rates in the world.

And unlike other countries, the country has largely shunned lockdowns since emerging from one last year. While the oil-rich capital Abu Dhabi has announced some curbs and plans to restrict public spaces to vaccinated people from August, Dubai remains largely open.

Dubai, the financial hub of the Middle East, is preparing to host the delayed Expo 2020 international exhibition in October. The emirate is aiming for 25 million unique visits and hopes to generate billions of dollars in revenue.

Vaccines from Pfizer Inc. and AstraZeneca Plc are available in the UAE, though the country’s vaccination program has hinged on Sinopharm, which is being produced locally. The government said it plans to offer a third Sinopharm shot to people who’ve already got two doses.

• Count pains of going to work as city lack public transportation system

By Tyavzua Saanyol - Abuja 

Residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has lamented that commuters in and within the city have to depend majorly on private car owners for their means of transportation.

Tribune Online investigation reveals that in some areas, residents would have to wait for over an hour or more before accessing a means of transportation to work.

Speaking with a resident of Kurudu whose office is in Garki, Area 3, Sunday Agbo said “getting a vehicle to convey me to town during rush hour is a struggle.

“You have to struggle for a seat once a vehicle arrives at this junction (pointing at the Army barracks phase 2 junction) or you may end up going to work very late,” he stated.

The situation is not different from that of Jikwoyi and Nyanya as our reporter witnessed commuters rushing vehicles on the arrival in order to secure seats.

Joy Attah told Tribune Online that “how fast one gets a vehicle here depends on many things, if there is hold up on the road, many car owners would decide to wait till the tariff jam reduces. That means commuters will have to wait for a long time.

“Sometimes, if few car owners are stopping to pick people, it will also be a challenge as the population of commuters would keep swelling up with few vehicles available and everyone desiring to get to work early. We just have to go through this vehicle struggling experience every working day.”

She lamented that “you know there is no public transportation system here in the Capital City, there are taxi vehicles but they are not enough.

“So we have to depend on vehicle owners who work in town to take us to work and bring us back home,” she stated.

In Lugbe, the situation is the same as well as in Kubwa areas. All over the FCT, residents depend largely on private vehicle owners for their daily transportation needs.

In 2013, FCT Administration banned commercial buses popularly known as Araba from plying routes in the main city giving reasons that the policy was to reduced traffic-congested within the city metropolis as the buses were becoming a nuisance to the city.

The Administration then said only licensed high capacity buses popularly known as El-Rufia buses would cater for the transportation needs of residents on major routes into the city centre.

In 2015, FCT Administration bought over 100 high capacity buses and added up to the buses that were already on the ground sending them to all the major routes leading into the city.

The Administration went further to dedicate some of the buses to ply some major routes within the city.

However, these buses did not last much as within a year, they started breaking down and their number on various routes began to diminish.

By 2017, most of the El-Rufia buses were seen parked at FCTA yard along Kubwa road and other yards within the city leaving a scanty number to ply major routes like Gwagwalada, Nyanya and Zuba Suleja route.

It seemed to lack of maintenance of these buses made it difficult for the administration to keep them running on the road. Gradually, these buses are becoming invisible and residents are now paying the hard price.
https://tribuneonlineng.com/we...

WASHINGTON — After nearly 16 months of rigid travel restrictions, Canada is finally starting to loosen the rules — but only for a specific few.

Effective Monday, fully vaccinated Canadians and permanent residents — those who have had a full course of a COVID-19 vaccine approved for use in Canada — will be able to skip the 14-day quarantine.

Eligible air travellers will also be exempt from the requirement that they spend their first three days in Canada in a government-approved hotel.

But the Canada Border Services Agency has a warning: would-be travellers will still be prohibited from entering the country if they were not eligible to travel to Canada before Monday.

Travellers must use the ArriveCAN app or web portal prior to departure to log their vaccination details, as well as the results of a negative COVID-19 test that's less than three days old.

Anyone who arrived before Monday will still be required to spend a full two weeks in quarantine upon arrival, the agency says.

"If you were unable to come to Canada on July 4 of this year, you can't come in on July 5 — there's been no change to all of the restrictions and the provisions that have been issued on that front," said Denis Vinette, CBSA vice-president, travellers branch.

"However, for those that can come to Canada, it's a very cautious, early first step in starting to delay or remove some requirements at the border."

Vinette said the agency is anxious to ensure people understand what is changing, as well as what is not, in order to prevent excessive delays or tie-ups at border control points.

"I think we can expect, certainly in the early days, individuals believing that, you know, July 5 is here, Canada is now open for tourism, recreation and things of that nature. That is not the case," he said.

"We've prepared our front-line staff, who've been having to deal with this since the onset, for those types of scenarios."

The ArriveCAN portal can be accessed either via the Apple or Android app or online via the federal government's website at canada.ca. Travellers are required to use the latest version of the app, which will be updated when the regulations change.

The mutual travel restrictions between Canada and the United States — which prohibit all discretionary travel between the two countries while continuing to allow the movement of trade, essential workers and international students — are due to expire July 21.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 4, 2021.

The Canadian Press

The Managing Director of Nigeria's Dana Air (9J, Lagos), Jacky Hathiramani, has been arraigned on charges of conspiracy, diversion, and felony in the Federal High Court in Abuja, the country’s newspapers report.

Federal High Court Justice Obiora Egwuatu, on June 30, ordered Hathiramani, the first defendant, and two unnamed co-accused in case number CR/101/21 to re-appear in court on October 13, 2021, in connection with the diversion of NGN450 million naira (USD1 million) from the sale of certain assets. Hathiramani is also the Managing Director of Dana Air's holding company, Dana Group, an industrial conglomerate in Nigeria.

This followed after the prosecution did not oppose a request by the defense for the postponement of the court hearing on the grounds that Hathiramani was currently out of the country for health reasons and therefore unable to appear in court on June 30. Defense counsel, Senior Advocate Sade Adedeji, said Hathiramani was also facing trial in another matter in Lagos state, which also had been adjourned as a result of his absence.

In an emailed response to a request for comment from ch-aviation, Hathiramani said: "It’s a misrepresentation and nothing to do with Dana Air. It’s an old issue already settled out of court with Ecobank." He gave no further insight.

As previously reported, Hathiramani in March 2021 confirmed to ch-aviation that he, along with six directors of the airline, had been called in for questioning by the Nigerian Police Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) in connection with an investigation into fraud, conversion, and embezzlement relating to an aircraft of the now-defunct Afrijet Airlines (6F, Lagos). Dana Air had leased the aircraft, an MD-82, 5N-BKI (msn 49483), from the state-owned Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON). There had reportedly been disagreement between the companies over outstanding lease payments and block-hour charges.

Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) Zikrullah Hassan, has said that the ban of international pilgrims from the 2021 hajj exercise will create a backlog crisis for Nigeria in subsequent years.

Hassan spoke on Tuesday at a one-day seminar, themed “Hajj, Communications and Covid-19 Pandemic” organised for State Pilgrims Welfare Boards (SPWBs) public relations and information units by the commission in Abuja.

He noted that new applicants may have a long wait ahead before they could have a chance to perform hajj.

Saudi Arabian authorities had barred international pilgrims for 2021 Hajj, declaring that only 60,000 pilgrims, including its citizens and nationals residing in the country, would be allowed to take part in the exercise.

Hajj 2021 rites are expected to commence on Saturday, July 17, 2021 and continue till Thursday, July 22, 2021.

“We have to get use to the queuing system and Nigeria won’t be the first to practise that system. In Indonesia and Malaysia, some people do not go to hajj until after 20years after they had paid. This is due to the numbers but I don’t think Nigeria would get as worst as that.

“Indeed, we have to learn the reality that an intending pilgrim might have to wait for two years or more and this is because the number we have on ground has already gone beyond what we can expect will be our allocation year in year out”, he stated.

Hassan, while also expressing disappointment over the development, urged the Saudi Arabia government to take a clue from World football bodies on how they were able to move on with football competitions amid the pandemic.

“We must leave with the Covid-19 pandemic and saying it may go away so sudden might be wishful thinking. The world is strong enough to overcome any challenges. I am aware that in Europe there is currently the European football competition going on and luckily we can see the crowds in the stadium.

“I am not saying football is not good but from the point of view as a hajj manager, what is football compared to worshipping Allah? So it is now left for the hajj managers to take a clue from the football competition where the stadium are now 75 percent occupied.

While appealing to Muslims to embrace the Hajj Savings Scheme (HSS), Hassan noted that scheme would enable subscribers have the advantage of gaining profit as they await the pilgrimage.

The NAHCON boss added that the effect of monetary devaluation in the face of unstable Naira exchange rate to the dollar would be cushioned by the return on investment when hajj deposits are done through the scheme.

According to him, the seminar was organised to debate upon problems of communication in the changing world of the pandemic, saying the ultimate goal is to gain deeper understanding of the challenges and arrive at solutions that would be applicable on their operations.