After months of warnings, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has grounded more than 60 private jets operating within the country over allegations of unpaid import duties. THISDAY gathered that the clampdown began on Monday and extended into Tuesday across several major airports, including Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja.
According to sources, most of the affected aircraft are foreign-registered but operate under Nigeria’s Permit for Non-Commercial Flight (PNCF), which allows private individuals to use aircraft for personal purposes without commercial gain.
Customs officials also sealed off some aircraft housed at ExecuJet’s facilities within the Lagos airport. ExecuJet, a well-known international private jet services company operating from a duty-free zone at the airport, reportedly had several jets impounded. Industry insiders have questioned the legality of Customs’ actions within a designated free trade zone, with one source stating, “ExecuJet is in a duty-free zone. What are Customs officials doing there?”
The NCS justified the action using provisions from Section 221 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023, which warns that unauthorized removal or tampering with customs seals could attract penalties of up to ₦100 million or 10 years’ imprisonment—or both.
Customs has been pursuing private jet owners since last year, accusing several high-profile Nigerians of owing billions of naira in import duties. In October 2024, the NCS threatened to ground over 60 aircraft but postponed the enforcement after extending a verification deadline by one month.
In a previous standoff, the NCS had written to the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) under former Comptroller-General Hameed Ali, requesting the grounding of jets. However, the NCAA then rejected the move, stating the aircraft had not violated any civil aviation rules.
When contacted for comments on the current enforcement, NCAA Director of Public Affairs, Mr. Michael Achimugu, said he was not yet aware of the development but promised to look into the matter and provide clarification.
