The National Security Adviser (NSA) has ordered a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding a private jet that reportedly landed on a roadway in Delta State and subsequently departed without regulatory approval, authoritative sources have disclosed to Spear News Nigeria.
This comes even as the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) announced the suspension of the operator’s permit and the grounding of the aircraft pending the outcome of inquiries.
According to a statement issued on Wednesday by the NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, the incident began when the aircraft, operated by an unnamed private operator, attempted to land at Asaba Airport on the morning of June 10, 2026.
After performing a missed approach at approximately 07:43 local time, the jet reportedly touched down on a roadway in the Ogwushi-Uku area near Asaba. All four crew members on board exited safely and were transported to Asaba by road, the NCAA confirmed.
However, the regulatory body expressed alarm that the aircraft later departed the location at approximately 11:02 GMT and returned to Lagos “without obtaining the requisite regulatory approval.” Air Traffic Control was allegedly notified only after the aircraft had become airborne — a clear violation of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig. CARs).
But it is the intervention of the National Security Adviser that has significantly raised the stakes of the probe.
Spear News Nigeria gathered that the NSA has directed a comprehensive investigation that goes beyond routine aviation infractions.
The NSA has directed a full-scale investigation into this incident. Given the current security climate across the country, there are grave suspicions that the landing may have been connected to the transportation of illicit goods,” the source disclosed to Spear News Nigeria.
Upon the jet’s arrival in Lagos, the NCAA immediately grounded the aircraft. The flight crew have been placed under regulatory review, and the operator’s permit for non-commercial flight has been suspended.
“The Authority has also been informed that Air Traffic Control was notified only after the aircraft had become airborne. This action constitutes a violation of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig. CARs) and is currently under investigation by the Authority,” Achimugu stated.
The NCAA has formally notified the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) and is coordinating with the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) and the operator to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident.
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