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
