● The Nigerian Customs is set to ground over 60 private jets over import duty violations
● A document sent to the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NCAA) shows that the enforcement will commence on October 14, 2024
● The Nigeria Customs Service has reportedly sent the list of the affected private jets to airport authorities to effect the directive
The Nigerian government, via the Nigerian Customs Service, will ground over 60 private jets owned by prominent Nigerians over import duty violations on Monday, October 14, 2024. …CONTINUE READING
Documents exchanged between the Customs and the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NCAA) show that the enforcement will commence on October 14, 2024.
Clergymen and businesspeople are affected
Reports show that duties are paid on only some private jets operating in the country. Customs seeks to recover the unpaid duties, which run into several billions of naira.
The development led to Customs carrying out a one-month verification exercise on all private jet owners in Nigeria between June and July this year.
The new decision to ground the jets comes almost three months after the Customs verification exercise.
Punch reports that private jets belonging to some top business owners, including chairmen and top bank executives, would be stopped from operating.
According to the report, the Customs have already notified the affected persons.
The list of affected private jets
The documents show that most affected aircraft are foreign-registered but owned by Nigerians.
The list includes some of the luxury aircraft on the list: 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 Bombardier BD-700 Global 7500 is estimated to cost over $70 m, while the Global 6500 and 6000 versions cost over $50m.
While 11 owners have been notified about their aeroplanes’ grounding, 55 others will receive their letters Today, Monday, October 14, 2024
