The Federal Government has directed the Nigeria Customs Service to ground 91 private jets owned by some wealthy citizens of the country over their alleged refusal to pay import duties running to over N30bn.
Based on the order, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Col Hameed Ali, (retd.) has written to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, and the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency asking the agencies to ground the affected private jets with immediate effect.
The letter was dated November 2, 2021, and addressed to the Director-General, NCAA, Capt Musa Nuhu.
A copy of the letter was also addressed to the Managing Director, FAAN, Capt Rabiu Yadudu; and the Managing Director, NAMA, Capt Fola Akinkuotu.
The letter directed the aviation agency regulator (NCAA), the nation’s airspace management agency (NAMA), and airport management agency (FAAN), to ground the private jets by denying them administrative and operational flight clearances indefinitely.
It said the letter had been received by the nation’s aviation agencies on November 8, 2021.
Huhuonline.com findings, showed that some of the 91 private jets directed to be grounded belong to the senior pastors of some popular Pentecostal churches in the country, some Tier-1 banks with one of the banks owning two upmarket jets, the chief executive officers of some indigenous oil companies, and the chairmen of some Tier-1 banks.
“The 91 private jets owe import duties in excess of N30bn and the Federal Government has directed that the Customs must recover this money. This is why we have sent demand notices to the private jet owners,” a Customs source privy to the development told huhuonline.com.
