NCAA: Airlines risk ban, $3,500 fine for flouting vaccination protocols

Airlines that flout the newly revised COVID-19 Provisional Quarantine protocols will pay a penalty of $3,500 per passenger for non-compliance with the requirements.

Besides the affected airlines may face an outright ban.

This is the new guidelines issued by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to all airlines operating in Nigeria.

Director General of NCAA, Captain Musa Nuhu, in an All Operators Letter (AOL) with reference NCAA/DG/AIR/16/327 issued on December 3 to all accountable managers, told the airlines that protocols for international flight operations and quarantine protocols for travellers arriving Nigeria issued on July 1, 2021still subsists.

“Inbound passengers: Airlines are only to board passengers travelling to Nigeria who are in possession of a paid permit to travel with a QR Code and a result of a negative COVID-19 test done not later than 48 hours from time of boarding.

“For any inbound passenger who is unable to either make payment for his/her repeat PCR test(s) or generate a paid permit to travel via the Nigeria International Travel Portal (NITP), airlines are to send an email to directorporthealthfmoh@gmail.com and copy travelportal@ncdc.gov.ng. ictservicedesk@ncdc.gov.ng, ilfred.haggai@ncaa.gov.gn for necessary assistance,” NCAA stated.

For outbound passengers, the agency said: “Airlines are only to board passengers out of Nigeria with evidence of either full vaccination for COVID-19 or a negative COVID-19 test done at the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) accredited laboratories mot later than 48 hours from time of boarding.”

The NCAA stressed that violation of these travel directives will cost the airlines $3,500 for any individual passenger or earn them a ban from flying into Nigeria.

“Non-compliance to these pre-boarding requirements by any airline will attract a penalty of $3,500 per passenger.

“Airlines who consistently fail to comply with these requirements may be banned from coming to Nigeria,” Nuhu said.