The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has issued a stern warning to international airlines operating inbound flights to Nigeria, demanding strict compliance with the legal requirement for passengers to declare any currency or Bearer Negotiable Instruments (BNIs) exceeding $10,000 or its equivalent upon arrival.
In a statement released on Tuesday by Michael Achimugu, Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at NCAA, the agency reminded airlines that this measure is part of Nigeria’s broader efforts to strengthen its Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) framework in alignment with global financial standards.
Airlines are specifically directed to make inflight or pre-landing announcements informing passengers of the currency declaration rule and to distribute the declaration forms onboard for completion before landing in Nigeria.
Achimugu noted that despite previous directives—specifically Reference NCAA/CPD/ABV/298 dated April 24, 2025—some airlines have failed to comply. He emphasized that full implementation is mandatory and will be closely monitored.
“The cooperation of all international airlines is critical,” Achimugu stated. “Non-compliance will attract appropriate sanctions, as the country remains committed to upholding international best practices in financial regulation and passenger processing.”
