RTP: NCAA slams $3,500 fine on erring passengers

NIGERIAN CIVIL AVI ATION AUTHOR ITY (NCAA) said it will impose a fine of $3,500 on any passenger on any airline that refuses to comply with the newly Revised Travel Protocol (RTP) and also ban any airline that consistently flout the new rules. The revised provisional quarantine protocol for travellers arriving or departing Nigeria became effective on December 5, 2021.

In a letter written to all airlines operating international flights into and out of Nigeria, containing the revised protocol, the director-general of the NCAA, Musa Nuhu said on inbound passengers, airlines are to only board passengers who are in possession of a paid permit to travel with a QR Code and result of a negative COVID-19 PCR test done not later than 48 hours from the time of boarding.

‘’For any inbound passenger who is unable to either make payment for his/her repeat PCR tests or generate a permit to travel via the Nigerian International Travel Portal (NITP), airlines are to send an email to : travelportal@ncdc. gov.ng; directorporthealthfmoh@ gmail.com; ictservicedesk@ncdc. gov.ng, for necessary assistance.’’, he said.

As for outbound passengers, airlines are to only board passengers travelling out of Nigerian with evidence of either full vaccination or result of negative COVID-19 PCR test done with NCDC accredited laboratories not later than 48 hours from the time of boarding.

‘’Non-compliance to these preboarding requirements by any airline will attract a penalty of $3,500 per passenger. Airlines who consistently fail to comply will these requirements may be banned from coming to Nigeria’’, he added.