The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has extended the deadline for private jet owners to regularize their import duties by one month, moving it from October 14, 2024, to November 14, 2024. This extension follows requests from aircraft operators who have expressed a willingness to comply with the required regulations.
In a statement issued by NCS spokesperson Abdullahi Maiwada, Customs emphasized that the move is aimed at promoting transparency and accountability in the aviation sector. The service urged jet owners to take advantage of the extended window to avoid sanctions for non-compliance.
The NCS had previously threatened to ground private jets that failed to pay import duties, using the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) to deny startup rights to defaulters. This followed a verification exercise carried out by the NCS between June and July 2024.
Despite this, some charter service operators have criticized Customs’ insistence on collecting duties from foreign-registered aircraft, arguing that the Federal Government already earns significant revenue from registration and operating fees paid by these jets. They warn that continued pressure from Customs may drive aircraft operators to relocate to neighboring countries, potentially reducing revenue for Nigeria.
Sam Iwuajoku, CEO of Quits Aviation Services Limited, pointed out that foreign-registered aircraft pay $10,000 every six months for Flight Operators Clearance Certificates (FOCC) and Maintenance Clearance Certificates (MCC), along with additional monthly fees amounting to $96,000 in other charges. He called on the government to intervene, stating that the focus should be on the revenue being generated rather than who collects it.
