Private jets in Nigeria used to smuggle cash & fugitives

Panapress has reported that under the new policy, pilots of private jets are to declare their passenger manifest before obtaining Air Traffic Control (ATC) clearances, while owners of private jets can only carry members of their families onboard.

The policy is causing some debate among aviation experts. According to Panapress, opposition parties are critising the policy, describing it as impracticable and targetted at perceived enemies of the government.

Local newspapers and Panapress have quoted aviation parastatals' spokesman Yakubu Dati as saying the order for the declaration of passenger manifest was necessary to check the abuse of the use of private and chartered jets.

Dati told the local newspapers that security operatives had disclosed that many wanted persons were being smuggled out of the country with private jets.  He added that some wanted persons were being sneaked into the country without appropriate checks as many private jets take off from private facilities at airports.

Panapress quotes the spokesman as saying that about 80% of the 150 private jets operating in the country were registered overseas, thus exempting them from paying taxes and 5% charges to the regulatory Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

“So, when you collate what government agencies lose by the illegal operations of these aircraft, it amounts to over 25 billion naira ($158 million) in a year. And I can authoritatively tell you that it is now a lucrative business that businessmen bring in aircraft to operate as private jets, while they are actually used for commercial purposes,'' he said.

Princess Stella Oduah, Nigeria's aviation minister, unveiled the new policy.