July 22, (THEWILL) — The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has directed all international airlines flying into Nigeria to ensure strict compliance with currency declaration rules for inbound passengers or face sanctions.
A statement signed by Michael Achimugu, NCAA Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, warned that airlines must announce the $10,000 declaration limit and distribute forms onboard, as part of Nigeria’s anti-money laundering efforts.
Reminding airlines of their legal obligations under an earlier directive dated April 24, 2025 (REF: NCAA/CPD/ABV/298), Achimugu said the authority had received reports that some airlines had failed to adhere to the instruction to inform passengers about their legal obligation to declare any currency or Bearer Negotiable Instruments (BNIs) exceeding $10,000 or its equivalent upon arrival.
Recently, there have been recurring cases of passengers, especially on inbound flights being caught with undeclared large sums of foreign currency often exceeding the legal limit without proper declaration. For instance, on July 5, 2025, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) intercepted $1,154,900 and SR135,900 (Saudi Riyals) concealed within palm-date fruit packs on a Saudi Arabian Airlines flight, highlighting the ongoing issue.
This raises concerns over money laundering, illicit financial flows, and terrorism financing, which the government, through the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), is under pressure to curb.
According to the directive, all international airlines are required to make in-flight or pre-landing announcements informing passengers of this obligation and to distribute currency declaration forms onboard for completion before landing.
“The NCAA has received reports indicating that some airlines are yet to comply with this directive. Please note that the cooperation of all international airlines operating in Nigeria is critical to supporting the country’s efforts to align with global financial standards”, the statement read in part.
The warning comes as part of Nigeria’s broader efforts to strengthen its Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) framework, in line with international standards and obligations, particularly those set by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
Achimugu further stressed that compliance would be closely monitored and warned that “non-compliant airlines will face appropriate sanctions”. He urged all international carriers to give the matter the seriousness it deserves, noting that full implementation of the directive is not only mandatory but essential to supporting Nigeria’s national and international financial credibility.
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