Olusegun Ariyo
The Nigeria Customs Service has given illegal imported private jet owners a 30-day grace to regularize their documents or face grounding.
The Spokesperson of NCS, Abdullahi Maiwada disclosed this in a statement on Monday while announcing the extension of the verification exercise for the recovery of import duties on illegally imported private aircraft in the country.
This comes after the expiration of the earlier October 14, 2024, verification exercise deadline.
NCS said the extension of the verification exercise was aimed at engaging operators who have expressed willingness to regularize their import duties.
“The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) wishes to inform the general public, particularly operators of privately-owned aircraft, that the verification exercise for the recovery of import duties on illegally imported private aircraft has been extended by one month, from Monday, 14th October 2024, to Thursday, 14th November 2024.
“This extension aims to further engage operators who have expressed willingness to regularize their import duties, providing them with an additional window to comply with the necessary regulations.
“The NCS is committed to ensuring that all illegally imported aircraft meet the legal requirements, thereby promoting transparency and accountability in the aviation sector.
“In light of this extension, the NCS encourages aircraft operators to take full advantage of the extended period to fulfill their obligations, avoiding sanctions that may arise from non-compliance after the deadline”, he stated.
Recall that in June 2024, the NCS summoned nearly 80 privately owned aircraft in Nigeria to present their import documents or face grounding.
