A notable case occurred on July 5, 2025, when the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) intercepted $1,154,900 and SR135,900 (Saudi Riyals) concealed inside palm-date fruit packs on a Saudi Arabian Airlines flight.
By Ife Osemedua
365Daily – The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has issued a stern warning to international airlines operating inbound flights to Nigeria over their continued failure to comply with currency declaration regulations for arriving passengers.
In a statement released on Tuesday, July 22, NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, said several airlines had failed to carry out mandatory pre-landing announcements instructing passengers to declare foreign currency or Bearer Negotiable Instruments (BNIs) exceeding $10,000 or its equivalent.
Achimugu noted that airlines are required to not only make the announcement in-flight or before landing but also to distribute currency declaration forms onboard for passengers to complete before arrival.
“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.
The warning is part of Nigeria’s broader efforts to strengthen its Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) measures, in line with international benchmarks set by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
The Authority emphasised it would closely monitor airline compliance going forward and warned that defaulters would be sanctioned accordingly.
“Non-compliant airlines will face appropriate sanctions,” Achimugu stated.
The NCAA urged all international carriers to treat the directive as mandatory, adding that its strict implementation was essential to protecting Nigeria’s financial reputation both domestically and globally.
This renewed enforcement push follows a spate of recent incidents involving the illegal importation of large sums of undeclared foreign currency by passengers arriving in the country. A notable case occurred on July 5, 2025, when the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) intercepted $1,154,900 and SR135,900 (Saudi Riyals) concealed inside palm-date fruit packs on a Saudi Arabian Airlines flight.
The discovery has raised fresh concerns over the use of international flights for illicit financial flows, money laundering, and terrorism financing, areas where the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is under mounting pressure to act decisively.