The Nigerian government, through the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), has extended the verification exercise for private jet owners by one month, now running from Monday, October 14, 2024, to Thursday, November 14, 2024.
In a statement signed by Customs spokesperson Abdullahi Maiwada and posted on the service’s Facebook page on Monday, the extension aims to allow more time for operators who have shown interest in settling their outstanding import duties.
This decision comes after an exclusive report by revealed that the government plans to ground over 60 private jets owned by prominent individuals due to unpaid import duties amounting to billions of naira. Documents exchanged between the NCS and the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, indicated that the enforcement was initially set to begin on October 14, 2024.
However, the NCS has now offered an additional window for compliance with the regulations.
The statement read, “The Nigeria Customs Service wishes to inform the general public, particularly operators of privately-owned aircraft, that the verification exercise for the recovery of import duties on illegally imported private aircraft has been extended by one month, from Monday, 14th October 2024, to Thursday, 14th November 2024.”
“This extension is intended to further engage operators who are willing to regularize their import duties and provides them with additional time to comply with the necessary regulations.”
The NCS emphasised that the extension is aimed at promoting transparency and accountability in the aviation sector and urged private jet owners to take advantage of the opportunity to meet their legal obligations and avoid penalties after the deadline.
Comptroller General of Customs Bashir Adewale Adeniyi also reaffirmed the Service’s commitment to enforcing import duty laws and maintaining the integrity of Nigeria’s aviation sector, expressing appreciation for the cooperation of stakeholders throughout the process.