In a decisive move to recover billions of naira in unpaid import duties, the Federal Government of Nigeria, through the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), has announced its intention to ground over 60 private jets owned by high-profile individuals and companies across the country. The action, which is set to begin today, is seen as the government’s last resort after efforts to collect these duties through other means proved unsuccessful.
The Nigerian Customs Service has officially notified the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency to deny flight clearances to these jets until their owners settle their outstanding import duties. According to reports, “the NCS has written to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency to deny flight clearances until duties are paid.”
This enforcement action follows a one-month verification exercise conducted between June and July 2024. The NCS had undertaken this process to verify private jets in the country, identifying those that had evaded import duty payments or exploited regulatory loopholes. “The one-month verification exercise aimed to identify improperly imported private aircraft without documentation and ensure maximum revenue collection,” an insider source explained. This exercise revealed that the majority of private jets in Nigeria had not paid the required duties.
Among the jets to be grounded are luxury models owned by prominent business figures, bank chairmen, and top executives. “Documents reveal that private jets belonging to prominent business moguls, bank chairmen, and executives are among those to be grounded,” the report said. Most of the affected aircraft are foreign-registered private jets owned by Nigerians. The list includes high-end jets such as the Bombardier Challenger 604 CL-600-2B16, Bombardier Challenger 3500, Bombardier BD-700 Global 6000, Bombardier BD-700 Global 6500, and Bombardier BD-700 Global 7500. Each of these luxury aircraft represents a significant investment, with some costing as much as $70 million.
Eleven private jet owners have already been notified about the impending grounding, while 55 others are expected to receive their letters today. The NCS’s aggressive stance on this issue aims to recover an estimated N260 billion in unpaid duties. “The enforcement exercise is expected to generate a good amount of revenue for the government, with estimates suggesting over N260 billion,” sources revealed.
In response to the enforcement action, some operators have reportedly lobbied the Presidency for intervention. However, the Presidency has refused to interfere, signaling its support for the Customs Service’s efforts to enforce the law. “It is understood that some operators have lobbied the Presidency, although they have refused to interfere,” reports indicate. This has prompted several private jet owners to begin paying their outstanding duties.
As the government moves forward with this enforcement action, many will be watching closely to see how the affected individuals and companies respond. The NCS is determined to ensure that all private jet owners comply with the law, contributing their fair share to the national revenue through the payment of import duties.
