Import Duty Evasion: Customs Halts Clampdown On Private Jets For 1 Month

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), on Thursday, announced the suspension of the clampdown on private jet owners over import duty evasion for one month.

LEADERSHIP reports that the Service, on Monday, started the grounding of over 60 private jets flying in the country over alleged non-payment of import duty.

The aircraft were grounded at the International wings of the Murtala Muhammed Airport and the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja over non-payment of import duty.

Majority of the affected aircraft in the enforcement were foreign registered operating in the country.

The impounded aircraft however belong to private Nigerians operating under the Permit for Non-Commercial Flight (PNCF) license.

This permit is granted to individuals who intend to own and operate aircraft for personal use and not for commercial purposes.

However, in a chat with LEADERSHIP, the Public Relations Officer of Customs, Dr Abdulahi Maiwada said the affected private jet owners have agreed to regularise their payment to the federal government within one month.

Accordingly, the Customs Spokesman said the action has been suspended as affected owners and the service have reached an agreement to comply with the payment of Customs duty.

“The service grounded some aircraft, but we have done some consultations, and there is a mutual understanding, that is an agreement to suspend the action for one month so that others will come and comply.

“They (private jet owners) are willing to comply to do the right thing. It’s about the regularisation of Customs duty. So we are working on that,” Dr Maiwada stated.