The Federal Government has given private jet owners in Nigeria a 30-day extension to settle their unpaid import duties, which amount to billions of naira. This decision was made after the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) sent a letter to the Nigeria Airspace Management Authority (NAMA) requesting a suspension of the planned grounding of 60 private jets.
The NCS had previously carried out a verification exercise in June and July to recover unpaid import duties from private jet owners. However, due to the willingness of some operators to regularize their import duties, the verification exercise has been extended by a month, from October 14 to November 14, 2024.
According to Umar Farouk, acting Managing Director of NAMA, the extension allows debtors to clear their import duties, potentially avoiding the grounding of their jets. The NCS spokesperson, Abdullah Maiwada, confirmed this extension, emphasizing its purpose is to engage operators willing to comply with import regulations.
This development highlights the ongoing efforts of the NCS to ensure compliance with import laws and regulations in Nigeria’s aviation sector.
