The Federal Government through the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) has asked owners of private jets in the country, to present their documents for verification.
A statement by the NCS said the exercise aims to identify improperly imported private aircraft without documentation, ensure proper imports and for maximum revenue collection.
The exercise begins on Wednesday (tomorrow), and is expected to last for 30 days, according to the public notice.
The notice, sighted by one of our correspondents, read in part, “The Nigeria Customs Service announces a verification exercise for privately owned aircraft operating in Nigeria. This exercise aims to identify improperly imported private aircraft without documentation, ensuring proper imports and maximum revenue collection.”
According to the notice, owners and operators of private jets in the country are to come with some relevant documents.
These include aircraft Certificate of Registration, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority’s Flight Operation Compliance Certificate, NCAA’s Maintenance Compliance Certificate, NCAA’s Permit for Non-Commercial Flights, and Temporary Import Permit (if applicable).
The development comes one year after the FG put on hold the exercise. The government had planned to recover import duty running into billions of naira from some private jet operators who had taken advantage of technical loopholes, to evade the payment of import duty.
Sometime in 2021, about 17 owners of foreign-registered private jets, comprising top business moguls, leading commercial banks, and other rich Nigerians, dragged the Federal Government to court, seeking to stop the grounding of their planes over alleged import duty default.
This came after the Federal Government approved the decision of the NCS, to ground about 91 private jets over their alleged refusal to pay import duties running to over N30bn.
The NCS had in 2021 embarked on a review of import duties paid on private jets brought into the country since 2006.
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority in March, cautioned private jet owners holding non-commercial flight permits against conducting commercial flight activities, threatening them with severe penalties for non-compliance.
According to Director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, owners of PNCF are prohibited from using their aircraft for transporting passengers, cargo, or mail for payment or compensation (commercial operations or charter services).
He said the directive aligns with Section 32 (4) of the Civil Aviation Act 2022, and emphasised that the NCAA will take enforcement measures against any PNCF holder caught engaging in unauthorised operations, including suspension, withdrawal, or revocation of their Permit for Non-Commercial Flight.
“The public is hereby notified that it is illegal to engage PNCF holders for commercial purposes,” the statement partly read.
He hinted that NCAA officials have been deployed to General Aviation Terminals and private wings of the airports to monitor activities of the PNCF holders.
Reiterating the NCAA’s firm stance on zero tolerance for violations of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations 2023, Achimugu emphasized that the NCAA would persist in enforcing strict compliance by implementing suitable sanctions.
Top Owners Of Private Jets In Nigerian
On average, the annual cost of keeping a private jet ranges between $500,000 and $1m (approximately N290m to N580m).
The types of private jets include very light jets, light jets, mid-size aircraft, super mid-size jets, heavy business jets, ultra-long range jets, and executive airliners.
Here are some Nigerians who allegedly own private jets, along with their net worth.
Aliko Dangote – Founder of Dangote group – $19.6 billion
Mike Adenuga – CEO of Globacom Ltd – $7 billion
Allen Onyema – CEO of Airpeace – $3.1 billion
Arthur Eze – CEO of Atlas Oranto Petroleum – $5.8 billion
Igho Sanomi – Businessman – $1 billion
Adedeji Adeleke -President of Adeleke university – $700 million
Cletus Madubugwu Ibeto – CEO of The Ibeto Group – $3.8 billion
Apostle Johnson Suleman – General overseer of Omega Fire Ministries – $10.5 million
Dr. Bryant (ABC) Orjiako – Chairman and co-founder of SEPLAT – $1.2 billion
Femi Otedola – Businessman and Philanthropist – $1.2 billion
Orji Uzor Kalu – Politician and businessman – $1.1 billion
Late Prophet TB Joshua – General overseer SCOAN – $15 million
Bishop David Oyedepo – General overseer of Living Faith Church – $200 million
Joseph Arumemi-Ikhide – Founder of Arik Air – $3 billion
Theophilus Danjuma – Nigerian politician – $1.1 billion
Pastor Adeboye – General Overseer of The Redeemed Christian Church of God – $65 million
Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor – Former president of Christian Association of Nigeria – $32 million
Folorunsho Alakija – Businesswoman – $1.53 billion
Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida – Nigerian retired general – $5 billion
Atiku Abubakar – Politician- $1.8 billion
Olusegun Obasanjo – Politician – $1.6 billion
Rochas Okorocha – Politician – $1.4 billion
Rotimi Amaechi – Politician – $780 million
Senator Ali Modu Sheriff – Politician – $1 million – $5 million
Godswill Akpabio – Politician – $20 million
Obi Cubana – Businessman – $96 million
Tiwa Savage – Musician – $17 billion
Phyno – Musician – $12 million
Ned Nwoko – Politician and businessman – $1.2 billion
Jide Omokore – Unavailable
Pastor Chris Oyakhilome – General Overseer of Christ Embassy – $50 million
Prophet Jeremiah Omoto Funfeyin – Founder of Christ Mercyland Deliverance Ministry – $35 million
Wizkid – Musician – $30 million
Don Jazzy – Musician – $10 million
Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah – Politician – $1.7 billion
Jimoh Ibrahim – Businessman – $1.1 billion
DJ Cuppy – Nigerian DJ – $3 million
Ernest Azudialu Obiejesi – Business man – $900 million
Olamide – Musician – $12 million
P-Square – Musician – $100 million.
Source: Channels TV website
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