The Nigerian government, through the Nigeria Customs Service, has explained why it has grounded 60 private jets across major Nigerian airports over unpaid customs duties amounting to billions of naira.
The spokesperson of the Nigeria Customs Service, Abdullahi Maiwada, confirmed the development to DAILY POST on Wednesday.
According to him, the seal of the private aircraft came after the service issued several statements and extended the verification deadline.
He noted that the service needed to carry out enforcement to collect revenue for Nigerians.
“NCS enforcement has started. The aircraft are grounded for the non-payment of customs duty, and as soon as they come over to regularise their payment and give what is due to Nigerians, they will get it back,” he said.
He added that, “We issued a statement when we started the verification, and we extended the period and even ‘overextended the period’; now that we are acting, everyone already knows our reason. We just have to enforce it; we have to collect revenue for Nigerians so that it will be used for Nigerians.
“Now that we have grounded them, they will have to comply. We are hopeful, and we know that they will comply.”
DAILY POST reports that some of the grounded luxury aircraft include Bombardier BD-700 Global 6000, BD-700 Global 6500, and BD-700 Global 7500, among others, owned by Nigerian banks, top business moguls, and other very important persons.
However, there are indications that some of the aircraft have been unsealed as of Wednesday after compliance and interventions.
DAILY POST recalls that Customs issued private jet owners a 30-day grace period to regularise their documents or face grounding.
Despite the expiration of the grace period, NCS did not take action due to several court cases.
