Customs set to identify Nigerian billionaires, pastors owning inappropriately imported private jets

• The Nigerian Customs Service has launched a verification exercise to determine aircraft improperly imported into Nigeria.
• Customs said the month-long verification exercise was aimed at ensuring compliance with regulatory guidelines and generating revenue.
• The NCS listed the documents required for verification and said private aircraft owners would present them at its headquarters in Abuja.

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has launched a thorough verification exercise targeting private jet owners operating in Nigeria.

The plan, disclosed in a statement signed by the customs directorate, aims to identify private planes imported illegally without the required documents.

Customs seeks to increase revenue

Customs said they aimed to ensure compliance with import protocols and boost revenue generation.

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According to reports, the statement said that by identifying and processing undocumented aircraft, Customs seeks to improve regulatory compliance in the aviation industry.

According to the statement, the verification is important in maintaining the integrity of Nigeria’s airspace and aims to streamline the importation process and increase operational efficiency.

Customs said:

“This exercise aims to identify private aircraft inappropriately imported without documents, thereby ensuring proper imports and maximum revenue collection,” the statement read in part.

Customs announces verification date

Furthermore, NCS said the private aircraft verification exercise in Nigeria would run from Wednesday, June 19 to July 19, 2024.

Customs said the verification programs would take place at the Tariff and Trade Department room at its head office in Abuja.

Airlines abandon planes at maintenance facilities

The development comes amid reports that Nigerian airlines are abandoning their planes in maintenance facilities due to high costs.

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ThisDay reports that more than 50% of Nigerian airlines' planes are parked at airports or maintenance facilities in Nigeria or abroad, leading to reduced capacity and higher airfares as airlines continue to reduce their operational costs.

This development has led to fears that domestic operations could be blocked at the risk of curtailing operations which could have a negative impact on Nigeria's economic activities.

Analysts believe that the challenges faced by Forex are responsible for the development.

Qatar Airways and other foreign airlines crash on plane tickets

Legit.ng reported that foreign airlines operating the Lagos-London route have now reduced their ticket prices below the fares charged by Air Peace, the only Nigerian airline operating the route.

An earlier report by Legit.ng showed that foreign airlines have significantly reduced fares on the Lagos-London route since Air Peace began operating it on March 30, 2024.

Experts attributed the plane ticket crash to the appreciation of the naira, but Air Peace said foreign airlines were trying to sabotage it.

Source: Legit.ng