..As FG vows to tackle rogue practices
By Ibrahim Isa
The Nigerian aviation industry has lost over N120 billion in the past decade due to illegal private jet operations, according to a report presented by Captain Ado Sanusi, chairman of the task force assigned by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, to investigate rogues activities across airports in the country.
The revelation came during the presentation of the task force’s findings, where Keyamo outlined the Federal Government’s resolve to tackle the problem head-on.
The report highlights the widespread abuse of private jet licenses, particularly those issued under the Permit for Non-Commercial Flights (PNCF), with many operators using these licenses to conduct illegal charter services, evade regulations, and engage in criminal activities such as money laundering, drug trafficking, and facilitating the illegal movement of individuals in and out of the country.
Reacting to the findings, Keyamo described the issue as a national security threat, stating, “As the chairman pointed out, lack of regulation of the private jet owners leads to criminal activity. So it starts with lack of regulation. It starts with illegal charter. And then when you cannot track them, it then leads to money laundering, drug trafficking, and all kinds of things. And that of course will also lead to illegal entry and exits into the country. So it is actually a national security problem that we are facing.”
The minister assured stakeholders that the report would not be swept under the carpet, stressing that hard decisions would be taken to address the issue, including dealing with high-profile individuals involved in these practices. He pledged to consult with all necessary stakeholders to implement the task force’s recommendations effectively.
“We are going to look at this and then come up with very practical solutions. Very practical steps that we must take. What we will not do is to back down, to say there is nothing we can do.
“If it means going to tell Mr. President that, look, we want to touch some untouchables, we will do so. And I know this president that we have, he is determined to do the right thing. He has not called one minister one day to say, don’t touch this or don’t touch that person. He has not done so. I can testify to that as a member of cabinet. So we are very confident that we are going to have a free hand to do what we have to do,” Keyamo stated.
He further emphasised the government’s commitment to improving the aviation sector, saying, “Our aim really is to have a safer, more secure aviation ecosystem in Nigeria. People who have worked very hard before we got here to make the place safe, we will not let them down. People who have worked very hard in this industry for years to create a safer environment, regulatory standards to ensure that lives are safe when they move from place to place. We will not come and then drop the ball. The duty we have is to increase regulatory standards and to make them safer for everyone.”
Captain Ado Sanusi, who led the task force, disclosed that the estimated N120 billion loss was calculated over a 10 year period. He also highlighted the broader implications of illegal operations, including the facilitation of drug trafficking and money laundering.
“The evasion protocols for international and domestic flights are being completely bypassed, making it easier for criminals to abuse the system,” Sanusi explained.
Discussion about this post