The Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 has announced new travel rules for passengers coming into Nigeria from South Africa and the UK where new variants of the virus have been discovered.

The National Coordinator of the PTF, Dr Sani Aliyu made the announcement on Thursday in Abuja, during a media briefing.

Aliyu said effective from Monday, all passengers coming into the country from the UK and South Africa on direct flights must use the Nigerian International Travel Portal to register.

They are to also fill in the health questionnaire and must upload a negative COVID-19, polymerase chain reaction, (PCR) result with a validity of not more than five days.

He added that travelers must pay for a COVID-19 PCR test at day seven of arrival in the country without which they would not be allowed to board the flights.

The coordinator also said a special register would be opened at the airports for passengers from these two countries specifically to track and ensure they presented themselves for the COVID-19 test on day seven.

He said there would be sanctions on passengers that presented fake PRC results.

“We’ll continue to be concerned about the emergence of the new variant coronavirus in the UK and additional mutate that was described coming from South Africa.

“The system for travels in terms of ensuring the safety of our citizens and preventing the importation of cases in the country is one of the most strict.