NCAA To Slam $3500 Per Passenger On Airlines That Flout Covid-19 Protocols For UK, SA

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) will fine airlines
$3,500 for each passenger from Monday December 28, 2020, for
non-compliance to the Nigerian government’s protocols concerning
flights coming in from the United Kingdom and South Africa.

Such flights may also be required to return non-Nigerian
defaulting passengers to point of embarkation as the regulator says
that repeated non-compliance by any airline will lead to a
suspension of the airlines’ approval or permit to fly into the
country.

The NCAA issued an All Operators Letter (AOL) on Saturday,
December 26, 2020 and addressed to Country and Accountable Managers
of all domestic and foreign airlines flying into Nigeria, stating
that passengers flying from the United Kingdom and South Africa
must present the pre-departure permit to fly/ QR Code generated
from Nigeria international travel portal and a documentary evidence
of a negative Covid-19 ltest result done within 96 hours of
boarding.

The NCAA said the Federal Government, through the Presidential
Task Force (PTF) on Covid-19 has reviewed the quarantine protocols
to include that passengers originating from both the UK and SA
would be received and processed separately by public health
authorities.

The NCAA also stated that all the new travel rules would be
applicable to both scheduled and non scheduled passengers from both
countries.

The AOL signed by the Director-General of NCAA Captain Musa Nuhu
read, “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
Presidential Task Force (PTF) on Covid-19 has reviewed the
quarantine protocols.

“ Passengers originating from 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 showing evidence of payment for the post-arrival day
seven COVID-19 PCR test and (b) Documentary evidence of a negative
COVID-19 PCR result done within 96 hours(four days) of boarding
from verifiable laboratory or health facility.

“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 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.”

According to the NCAA, the rules apply to all airlines with
passengers originating from the United Kingdom and South Africa
regardless of transit arrangements. It also said the new rules are
applicable to scheduled and non scheduled flights from the United
Kingdom and South Africa.

The NCAA further clarified that the earlier quarantine protocol
which became effective from 18th September 2020 shall continue to
subsist for flights originating from other countries except for the
validity of the Pre-departure PCR test result which will now be 96
hours from the date of departure.

On non-compliance, the NCAA said, “Punitive measures shall be
taken against airlines who fail to comply with this All Operators
Letters. The punitive measures shall include but not limited to the
following:
“Airlines shall be fined $3,500 for each defaulting passenger.
Airlines may be required to return non-Nigerian defaulting
passengers to point of embarkation. Repeated non-compliance by any
airline will lead to the suspension of the airline’s
approval/permit to fly into the country.”

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) will fine airlines
$3,500 for each passenger from Monday December 28, 2020, for
non-compliance to the Nigerian government’s protocols concerning
flights coming in from the United Kingdom and South Africa.

Such flights may also be required to return non-Nigerian
defaulting passengers to point of embarkation as the regulator says
that repeated non-compliance by any airline will lead to a
suspension of the airlines’ approval or permit to fly into the
country.

The NCAA issued an All Operators Letter (AOL) on Saturday,
December 26, 2020 and addressed to Country and Accountable Managers
of all domestic and foreign airlines flying into Nigeria, stating
that passengers flying from the United Kingdom and South Africa
must present the pre-departure permit to fly/ QR Code generated
from Nigeria international travel portal and a documentary evidence
of a negative Covid-19 ltest result done within 96 hours of
boarding.

The NCAA said the Federal Government, through the Presidential
Task Force (PTF) on Covid-19 has reviewed the quarantine protocols
to include that passengers originating from both the UK and SA
would be received and processed separately by public health
authorities.

The NCAA also stated that all the new travel rules would be
applicable to both scheduled and non scheduled passengers from both
countries.

The AOL signed by the Director-General of NCAA Captain Musa Nuhu
read, “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
Presidential Task Force (PTF) on Covid-19 has reviewed the
quarantine protocols.

“ Passengers originating from 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 showing evidence of payment for the post-arrival day
seven COVID-19 PCR test and (b) Documentary evidence of a negative
COVID-19 PCR result done within 96 hours(four days) of boarding
from verifiable laboratory or health facility.

“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 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.”

According to the NCAA, the rules apply to all airlines with
passengers originating from the United Kingdom and South Africa
regardless of transit arrangements. It also said the new rules are
applicable to scheduled and non scheduled flights from the United
Kingdom and South Africa.

The NCAA further clarified that the earlier quarantine protocol
which became effective from 18th September 2020 shall continue to
subsist for flights originating from other countries except for the
validity of the Pre-departure PCR test result which will now be 96
hours from the date of departure.

On non-compliance, the NCAA said, “Punitive measures shall be
taken against airlines who fail to comply with this All Operators
Letters. The punitive measures shall include but not limited to the
following:
“Airlines shall be fined $3,500 for each defaulting passenger.
Airlines may be required to return non-Nigerian defaulting
passengers to point of embarkation. Repeated non-compliance by any
airline will lead to the suspension of the airline’s
approval/permit to fly into the country.”