Business Aviation Operations to Nigeria- Part 2: A must-read for operators planning a mission to Nigeria. Here’s the info on immigration, security, transport, and accommodation.
Customs and Immigration
The Customs and Immigration processes for business flights in Nigeria can be a pleasant experience so long as you provide all the relevant information to your handler or agent well in advance and ensuring your documentation is complete. Your handler or agent will do most of the interfacing with the officials.
What are documentation requirements for Nigeria?
A valid passport for at least six months from the date of arrival is required for all nationals. All nationals except ECOWAS citizens and citizens of Cameroun and Kenya require visas to enter Nigeria and visas must be procured before embarking on the trip. Crew can be admitted on GENDEC, Crew ID, and uniforms for a period of 73hrs without visas, and if this must be extended, the Immigration authorities must be notified.
Are visas-on-arrival possible?
Visas on arrival can only be issued with pre-authorisation form the Ministry of Interior prior to arrival. Penalties for arrival without a visa include a fine of up to $20,000 USD to the carrier and immediate deportation of the passenger.
Security and Local Information
Are there security considerations off-airport?
At Abuja DNAA, security concerns are low. For passengers and crew visiting DNPO and other areas in the Delta region, it is advisable to exercise caution off airport and get sometimes hire security or a local guide.
Do things shut down during bank holidays?
Nigeria has many holidays throughout the year, some for up to two days which may roll over into weekends. However, all handlers and airport services remain in operation. You could experience difficulties if you require permits or re-routing from the NCAA or NAMA and if you need to do physical transactions at the bank.
Are airports relatively close to town centers?
DNMM and DNKN are located within the municipalities. However, DNAA and DNPO are quite a distance from the city centers and may take between 30–60 minutes’ drive depending on traffic and time of the day.
Ground Transport and Accommodation
Outside of DNMM, DNAA, and DNPO, getting high-quality hotels may prove difficult. It is always advisable to plan with your handler ahead and insist on some top brand names. Some handlers may have contracted or discounted rates with hotels but that does not mean those hotels are the most suitable.
Is driving or renting vehicles advised?
Driving is not advised unless you have previously lived and driven in Nigeria before. The traffic and roads, especially in Lagos, Port Harcourt, and Abuja, are some of the most difficult in the world to navigate so it is highly advisable to organize a vehicle and a driver.
What about hotel availability high-season?
In Abuja, hotels are often fully booked during political, state, or special events which are regular occurrences. Port Harcourt and Lagos rarely experience this, but it is still advisable to make bookings well in advance.
What are other hotel considerations?
Most hotels provide complimentary breakfasts. Some offer airport shuttle services on request but it’s advised not to run your schedule on this. The best option is to have your handler arrange transportation, drop-off, and pick-up.
What is important to remember when organizing transportation?
Public transportation system is highly underdeveloped in Nigeria or in some places virtually non-existent. What you will often find are individually operated cabs, mini-buses which are not recommended. Only use approved car hire at the hotels or airports, your handling agent will assist with this.
Visit the UAS Blog for more tips on business operations to African countries.
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Mitch Launius
Instructor Pilot for 30 West IP
Mitch is the CEO of 30 West IP where he is also an instructor providing pilot training on international procedures. With an illustrious career of over 34 years in the cockpit, Mitch has acquired over 13,000 hours of flight time flying worldwide, with over 9,000 hours of this in Challenger and Gulfstream aircraft. He is an experienced safety officer and was also an IS-BAO project manager for a fortune 500 flight department. He has presented on Safety and Operations topics at the NBAA International Operators Conference and the Canadian Business Aviation Association Convention and is currently on the NBAA International Operators Committee and serves as the North Atlantic Regional Lead. Mitch is also a member of an FAA working group on General Aviation International Authorizations and Tabletop Exercises (GIATE). He was recently selected to represent IBAC as a member of the ICAO Personal Training and Licensing Panel (PTLP) and was also recently named as a 2020 recipient of the NBAA Tony Kern Professionalism in Aviation Award for his contribution to the business aviation community.
Henry ‘Duke’ LeDuc
Director Of Operations, Americas, UAS International Trip Support
Duke has been a dearly respected member of UAS Americas team and the UAS global family for more than five years. A safety-oriented, FAA-licensed aircraft dispatcher, he oversees all of the operations of the elite UAS Operations Team. With twenty-five years of experience in aviation overall with more than fifteen years of experience in international flight planning and VVIP trip coordination, he is responsible for the development of the dispatch training program and involved in the strategic development of UAS Americas. With a myriad of rich aviation experience behind him, he has extensive experience in worldwide operations with both corporate and charter environments, including seven years as Operations/Dispatch Manager in an industry-leading, Fortune 500, IS-BAO Stage III Certified corporate flight department. Duke is frequently asked shares his knowledge at major industry events and is currently serving on the NBAA’s International Operators Conference (IOC) Planning Committee.
Dudley King
President and Founder, FlightBridge
Dudley is the Founder and President of FlightBridge, which he established in 2011 and has been focused on technology solutions for the private aviation industry since 2006. Since he graduated from Dartmouth in 1988, he has worked with an array of companies listed anywhere from VentureWire to the Fortune 100. A rare blend of executive, entrepreneur, and consultant, Dudley’s executive roles have included acting CIO positions for several companies and tech advisory services to CEOs trying to rebuild their technology organizations or looking for an external, professional point of view. Highly skilled at deeply understanding his customer’s business challenges and drawing from a long and varied experience in information technology services, Dudley excels at designing technology solutions to solve their problems.
Dr. Paulo Alves
Global Medical Director, Aviation Health, Medaire
Paulo has extensive experience in medical advisory in the aviation industry. As a cardiologist, he provides technical guidance and analysis for MedAire’s MedLink medical advisory service and is MedAire’s liaison with civil aviation regulators and industry associations. Paulo worked with Varig Brazilian Airlines for 23 years, 10 of which were spent as General Medical Manager. A member of the MedAire Medical Advisory Board, Paulo is also President of the Ibero-American Aerospace Medical Association, a member of the International Academy of Aerospace Medicine, a member of the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) Safety Committee, a Fellow of the Aerospace Medical Association (AsMA), and a Fellow of the Civil Aviation Medical Association. Throughout his illustrious career, Paulo has held industry leadership roles including Chairperson of the AsMA’s Air Transport Medicine Committee, President of the Airlines Medical Directors Association, President of the Brazilian Society of Aerospace Medicine and was a member of the IATA Medical Advisory Group from 2002 to 2006.
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