The Federal Government has instructed private jet owners in Nigeria to submit their documents for a verification exercise.
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) announced the initiative to identify improperly imported private aircraft and ensure proper importation and maximum revenue collection.
According to the NCS statement, the verification will start on Wednesday and continue for 30 days. It will be conducted at the Tariff and Trade Department Room, Nigeria Customs Service Headquarters, Wuse Zone 3, Abuja, from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm daily.
Owners and operators of private jets are required to present several documents, including the aircraft’s Certificate of Registration, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority’s (NCAA) Flight Operation Compliance Certificate, Maintenance Compliance Certificate, Permit for Non-Commercial Flights, and Temporary Import Permit (if applicable).
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This exercise follows a one-year suspension of a similar initiative aimed at recovering unpaid import duties. In 2021, the Federal Government intended to recover billions of naira from private jet operators who had evaded import duties. The government approved the NCS’s decision to ground 91 private jets over non-payment of import duties totaling over N30 billion.
In March, the NCAA warned private jet owners with non-commercial flight permits against conducting commercial flights, threatening severe penalties for non-compliance.
The NCAA emphasized that engaging PNCF holders for commercial purposes is illegal and will result in sanctions, including the suspension, withdrawal, or revocation of their permits.
The NCAA has deployed officials to monitor private jet activities at airports, ensuring strict adherence to Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations 2023.
