Coming Home for Detty December? Nigeria Travel Requirements and the Health Checklist You Need

Your suitcase is half packed: gifts for aunties, a wedding outfit, and a list of every buka you plan to visit. Before you zip it, check the health side of Nigeria travel requirements, because a few things changed this year.

Do I need Nigeria’s health declaration form?

Yes. After the Ebola case in Abuja in October, Nigeria stepped up screening at entry points. Complete the form on NCDC’s health declaration portal before you fly and keep the QR code on your phone. Our step by step guide to Nigeria’s health declaration form walks you through it. Health teams may follow up for up to 21 days.

What about the trip back?

Flying back to the US? Travellers from Nigeria must sign an Ebola declaration before boarding. Stopping in Accra? Ghana now asks every passenger to fill an online health form before departure.

Is my yellow card still valid?

One dose of yellow fever vaccine protects for life, but only a genuine card from an approved centre counts. WHO has reported yellow fever in nine African countries this year, Nigeria included.

Do I really need malaria pills?

This is the one diaspora visitors underrate. Your childhood immunity fades soon after you leave a malaria area. US health authorities say about 75% of imported malaria cases there are in people visiting friends and relatives. Get antimalarial medicine from a doctor before you travel, sleep under a treated net, and treat any fever in the weeks after your trip as possible malaria until a test says otherwise. Tell the doctor back home where you travelled.

Will my insurance cover me?

Check that your health or travel insurance covers treatment in Nigeria, and carry the policy number and emergency contact on your phone. Otherwise, expect to pay out of pocket for any care.

Feel unwell while you are home? Call NCDC’s helpline on 6232.

This article is for general information and is not a substitute for professional medical advice.