By Emmanuel Nduka
The Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) has announced that 30 of the verified 65 private planes in Nigeria owe custom duties to the Federal Government.
This was disclosed by the Customs Public Relations Officer, Joseph Attah, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
The NCS said the airplanes came into the country by Temporary Importation Agreement which allows them to bring the jets without payment because it was secured by bond, adding that many owners refused to pay upon the expiration of the agreement which necessitated the verification.
“Considering the rising number of compliance and the number of jets that are liable for payment of duties as well as indications by those people to do so, the Comptroller-General has again graciously given them another two weeks.
“The exercise as I stated in our previous briefings, is not intended to be punitive or to embarrass them but to ensure that these private jets that operate in the country are properly documented.
“And also, to ensure every collectable revenue is collected into the coffers of the Federal Government. As you all know the case of increasing economic challenges, every source of revenue is important to the government and beyond that, for security purpose.
“With this, you can now tie proper ownership to every aircraft or private jet that flies into and out of the country. Through the exercise, we have been able to know those hiding under temporary importation agreement,” the NCS said.
He further warned that the current extension of payment would be the last given to private jet owners, most of the owners who are high net worth individuals, adding that failure to pay after the extension will result in aircraft impoundment.
