NCAA to fine airlines, passengers $3,500 for non-compliance with Covid-19 protocols

Chinazor Megbolu |

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has said it will fine any airline $3,500 for each passenger for non-compliance of Covid-19 protocols.

The NCAA also disclosed the fine may extend to requiring the return of non-Nigerian defaulting passengers to point of embarkation for non-compliance with Covid-19 rules regarding the United Kingdom and South Africa.

The Federal Government agency added that any airline that doesn’t adhere to the protocols by the government will earn suspension of the airlines’ approval or permit to fly into Nigeria.

The aviation sector regulator further explained that the new travel rule is effective Monday, December 28, 2020.

The organisation, had at the weekend in its latest AOL and signed by the Director-General, Captain Musa Nuhu, to the country and accountable managers, noted that the federal government through the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on Covid-19 has reviewed the quarantine protocols, stressing that passengers coming from both the UK and South Africa would be received and processed separately by public health authorities.

However, the agency had also extended the AOL to all local and foreign operators flying into the country, mandating them that passengers flying from the United Kingdom and South Africa must present pre-departure permit to fly/QR Code generated from Nigeria international travel portal and a documentary evidence of a negative Covid-19 PCR test result done within 96 hours of boarding.

Nuhu hinted that all the new travel rules would be applicable to both scheduled and non-scheduled passengers from both countries.

“With the recent spike in cases of Covid-19 in Nigeria and the reported transmissible new variant of the virus in the United Kingdom and South Africa, the Nigerian government, through The Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, has reviewed the quarantine protocols.

“Passengers originating from the United Kingdom (UK) and South Africa. For flights and passengers originating from United Kingdom (UK) and South Africa with final destination being Nigeria the following shall apply:

“Passengers must present the following two documents in order to be allowed to board their flights to Nigeria: (a) 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 (b) documentary evidence of a negative Covid-19 PCR result done within 96 hours (4 days) of boarding from verifiable laboratory or health facility.

“On arrival in Nigeria, passengers will be received and processed separately by public health authorities and all passengers will be required to self-isolate for 7 days after arrival followed by Covid-19 PCR test.

“Passengers with a post arrival negative Covid-19 PCR result can exit self-isolation and further management.

“A dedicated register of arriving passengers from the United Kingdom and South Africa will be opened and enhanced for surveillance and active enforcement of these protocols,” Nuhu said.

Moreover, the agency maintained that the quarantine protocol, which has been in place since September 18, 2020, shall continue to affect flights coming in from other countries except for the validity of the pre-departure PCR test result which would now be 96 hours from date of departure.