FG to ground over 60 private jets over unpaid duties
The Nigerian Customs Service, under the Federal Government, plans to immobilize more than 60 private jets belonging to well-known individuals due to unpaid import duties totaling billions of naira.
According to The Punch, the Nigerian Customs Service will commence the enforcement action on Monday.
This decision comes after discussions between the Customs Service and the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency concerning the immobilization of private jets owing to unpaid import duties.
It has been reported that numerous private jets in Nigeria have outstanding import duties, prompting the Nigerian Customs Service to seek the recovery of these unpaid sums, which amount to several billion naira.
Following a one-month verification exercise conducted on all private jet owners in the country between June and July, the NCS has decided to ground the jets nearly three months later as part of efforts to address unpaid import duties.
Private jets owned by prominent business figures, including chairpersons and top executives of banks, are among those that will be prohibited from flying, as stated in official notifications sent out by the Nigerian Customs Service.
Most of the affected planes are foreign-registered jets owned by Nigerians, underscoring the emphasis on compliance with import duty regulations.
Some of the luxury aircraft affected include the Bombardier Challenger 604 CL-600-2B16, Bombardier Challenger 3500, Bombardier BD-700 Global 6000, Bombardier BD-700 Global 6500, and Bombardier BD-700 Global 7500. Each Bombardier BD-700 Global 7500 is estimated to cost over $70 million, while the Global 6500 and 6000 versions cost over $50 million.
As a result, certain private jet operators have begun settling their unpaid import duties, with several pledging to make payments this week.
Reportedly, the operators of a U.S.-registered Gulfstream G650ER jet owned by a prominent Nigerian bank have paid N5.3 billion in duties to avoid enforcement action.
The NCS had previously successfully recovered duties during a similar exercise in 2019.
Letters currently being sent out indicate that private jets owned by prominent individuals and corporate entities will be immobilized until outstanding duties are paid. This enforcement action is anticipated to yield substantial revenue for the government.
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