The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has made public, results of verification of import documents of some privately owned aircrafts in the country.
Newsclickng.com reports that the Service had in May notified the public of the commencement of the verification exercise.
The verification exercise, Newsclickng.com gathered held between 7th of June and August 6th with 86 private jets/aircraft owners showing up.
Briefing newsmen on the outcome of the verification exercise at the NCS Headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday, Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Service, Comp. Joseph Attah said 57 of the 86 aircrafts were verified as commercial charter operators, and were duly cleared for operations.
According to him, 29 other private jets/aircrafts were found liable for payment of Customs duty.
However, Attah explained that some 62 private jets duly registered with appropriate authorities were not verified because their owners neither showed up nor send representatives.
He warned of the dire consequences should the owners not the owners not present the Service with the documents for subsequent verification and clearance.
The statement signed and released by Attah obtained by Newsclickng.com reads in part:
“In line with its statutory functions as provided for in PART III Sections27, 35, 37, 45, 46, 47, 52, 56, 63 & 64; Part XI Sections 144, 145, 155, 160, 161&164 and Part XII Sections 167, 168, 169 173&174 of the Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA), ALL owners of Private Aircrafts in the country were invited to come forward with their relevant importation clearance documents for verification.
“This exercise took place between the 7th of June and August 6th 2021 at the Tariff and Trade Department of the Service. In it the following documents were requested:
· Aircraft Certificate of Registration
· NCAA’s Flight Operations Compliance Certificate (FOCC)
· NCAA’s Maintenance Compliance Certificate (MCC)
· NCAA’s Permit for Non-Commercial Flights (PNCF) and
· Temporary Import Permit (TIP) (where application).
“Within the stipulated period, 86 private jets/aircraft operators showed up for the exercise and presented the relevant documents for verification. Of this number, 57 were verified as commercial charter operators, and were duly cleared for operations. 29 other private jets/aircrafts were found liable for payment of Customs duty. Their values were assessed, and the appropriate demand notices issued to their owners for the payment of outstanding duties.
“However, 62 other private jet/aircrafts whose registration numbers were duly obtained from the appropriate authority were not verified because their owners or designated representatives made no presentations to Customs that could help determine their status.
“To this effect, all 57 commercial charter jet/aircraft operators who presented their documents for verification are requested to come forward to the Tariff and Trade department of the Nigeria Customs Service Headquarters, Abidjan Street, Wuse Zone 3 Abuja-FCT, Room 312 between 10:00am and 5:00pm to collect their Aircraft Clearance Certificates.
“All 29 Private Jet/Aircraft owners and or their representatives who have been issued with demand notices have been given (14) days from the 11th of October 2021 to collect and make payments to the designated Federal Government accounts after which they will be issued with Aircraft Clearance Certificates.
“The owners of the 62 private aircrafts for which no presentations were made for their verification, and whose status remains uncertain are requested to immediately furnish the Tariff and Trade department of the Service with the necessary documents for verification and clearance.
“The Nigeria Customs Service implores all concerned to avail themselves of this opportunity as it will not hesitate to activate enforcement procedures on identified defaulters
“The Federal Aviation Authority of Nigeria has also been put on notice to ensure only Privately Owned Aircrafts duly verified, and cleared by Customs are authorized to operate within our airspace.”
