Airlines to Pay $3,500 for Violating COVID-19 Guidelines

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has said airlines must ensure passengers comply with COVID-19 guidelines before flying to Nigeria or risk paying a $3,500 fine for each passenger that failed to adhere to the new travel protocols announced by the Presidential Task Force.

In a letter signed by Capt Musa Nuhu, the Director-General, NCAA, and addressed to all airlines, NCAA directed passengers flying from the United Kingdom and South Africa to present a pre-departure Permit to Fly/QR code and negative COVID-19 PCR test result done within 96 hours of boarding.

Nuhu noted that the new guidelines were to curb a new variant of COVID-19 fast spreading across the globe.

The circular read in part, “Passengers must present the following two documents to be allowed to board their flights to Nigeria:

“Pre-departure Permit to Fly/QR code generated from the Nigeria International Travel Portal (https://nitp.ncdc.gov.ng) showing evidence of payment for the post-arrival day 7 COVID-19 PCR test and;

“Documentary evidence of a negative COVID-19 PCR result done within 96 hours (four days) of boarding from a verifiable laboratory or health facility.”

Nuhu further explained that “On arrival in Nigeria, passengers will be received and processed separately by public health authorities.

“All passengers will be required to self-isolate for seven days after arrival followed by a COVID-19 PCR test.”

He also warned that any airline that violates the new guidelines would have its permit to fly into Nigeria suspended.