The Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) has launched a new initiative aimed at cracking down on operators of improperly imported private jets into the country. Approximately 80 private jet operators are expected to appear at the NCS headquarters in Abuja over the next 30 days to present their aircraft import documents for verification. This includes essential documents such as the Aircraft Certificate of Registration, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority’s Flight Operation Compliance Certificate, and others.
The move follows past efforts by the Federal Government to recover import duties amounting to billions of naira from private jet operators who allegedly exploited technical loopholes to evade payment. Despite previous attempts to enforce duty payments, a significant number of operators have reportedly continued to extend Temporary Import Permits (TIPs) indefinitely, instead of fulfilling their duty obligations.
The verification exercise is poised to ensure compliance with import duty regulations, with potential consequences including grounded jets for operators who fail to meet payment requirements. The TIP, previously criticized as a fraudulent loophole, typically mandates a five percent duty on the private jet’s value, a fee that some operators have reportedly avoided through regulatory manipulations.
Source: PUNCH