The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has grounded 91 private jets belonging to some wealthy Nigerians over their alleged refusal to pay import duties running to over N30 billion.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Hameed Ali has written a letter to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), and the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) asking the agencies to ground the affected private jets with immediate effect. The letter, with reference number NCS/T&T/ACG/042/s.100/VOL.II, which was dated November 2, 2021, was addressed to the Director-General, NCAA, Musa Nuhu.
The letter was also addressed and sent to the Managing Director of FAAN Rabiu Yadudu; and the Managing Director of NAMA Fola Akinkuotu. The letter directed the aviation agency regulator, NCAA, the NAMA, and FAAN, to ground the private jets by denying them administrative and operational flight clearances indefinitely.
*Global financial digest
