Last minutes fine tuning of logistics accounted for the shift of the resumption of international flights to Nigeria from today to September 15.
Industry sources said the E-payment platform and provision of enough COVID-19 test laboratories largely forced the government to rethink.
The government also decided for a shift of flights to avoid a faulty arrangement which can have international backlash on the country.
Nigeria, according to one of the sources, has met about 95 per cent of the COVID-19 Protocols to put up international flights.
The source said: “We have not been able to harmonise the E-payment platform to be used by international passengers coming into the country.
“The E-payment platform must be put in place in the country of origin and the destination. By the COVID-19 Protocols for international flights, passengers coming to Nigeria will buy tickets and undergo COVID-19 test in their country of origin.
“They are also expected to pay for COVID-19 laboratory test, as they are booking tickets, which they will undergo on the 8th day of their arrival in Nigeria.
“While Nigeria is ready with its E-payment platform, some countries have not been able to put this in place.”
He said the “E-payment portal is also expected to contain basic dossiers of each passenger, including verifiable home or locations in Nigeria and a list of contacts who can be traced. It has inbuilt tracking devices.
“Since the platform is all encompassing, Nigeria needs a tidier database of all inbound international passengers.”
The source also said there are not enough private laboratories in the country for COVID-19 test.
