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

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on Thursday, announced the suspension of the clampdown on private jet owners 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.

It was gathered that the aircraft was grounded at the International wings of the Murtala Muhammed Airport and the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja, over import duty evasion.
It was further gathered that the majority of the affected aircraft are foreign registered, which are flying in the country.

The impounded aircraft belong to private individuals in Nigeria, which are under the Permit for Non-Commercial Flight (PNCF) license.

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

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

According to the Customs spokesman, the action has been suspended as private jet owners, and the service reached an agreement to comply with payment of Customs duty.

“The service grounded some aircraft, but we have done some consultations, and there is a mutual understanding that there 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.