Customs Gives 29 Private Jet Owners 14 Days To Resolve Import Infractions

The Nigerian Customs Service has given private jet owners in the country an ultimatum of 14-days to sort out detected infractions in their import and operational documents.

The infractions, according to the Service are to be resolved with its Tariff and Trade Department.

The Public Relations Officer of the Customs, Comptroller Joseph Attah made this know on Tuesday in Abuja.

The WHISTLER had in July reported that the NCS had directed Private jet owners to verify their documents with the service or risk having their airplanes impounded.

Attah said that the Service has already issued demand notices to all those concerned and expects to generate billions of naira once they close detected gaps.

He explained that the action of the NCS was driven by the need to promote national security and recover trapped revenue of the government in various private jet owners’ coffers who evaded duties and other statutory charges.

He recalled that the verification exercise took place between the 7th of June and August 6th 2021 at the Tariff and Trade Department of the Service.

He said, “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.

“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.”

He also directed the 62 private aircrafts whose owners have not provided any documents for verification, to immediately furnish the Tariff and Trade department of the Service with the necessary documents for verification and clearance.

For the verification, the Customs requested aircraft’s registration, Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority Flight Operations Compliance Certificate, NCAA’s Maintenance Compliance Certificate, NCAA’s Permit for Non-Commercial Flights and Temporary Import Permit (where applicable).