The Nigerian government has temporarily suspended the operations of ten private jet operators.
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) announced on
Thursday that it has suspended the licenses of ten private jet companies for
violating the agency’s regulations.
The NCAA’s Public Affairs and Consumer Protection Director,
Michael Achimugu, made the announcement in a statement posted on the agency’s
official website.
As per NCAA Regulations 2023 Part 18.3.4, individuals
holding a Permit for Non-Commercial Flight (PNCF) are prohibited from utilizing
their aircraft for the transportation of passengers, cargo, or mail for any
form of monetary compensation or commercial gain. This includes both commercial
operations and charter services.
Due to the blatant disregard for this regulation, the NCAA
previously instructed all PNCF holders to undergo a reevaluation, which should
have been completed by April 19.
“To this end, the NCAA has suspended the PERMIT FOR NON
COMMERCIAL FLIGHTS of Azikel Dredging Nigeria Ltd, Bli-Aviation Safety
Services, Ferry Aviation Developments Ltd, Matrix Energy Ltd, Marrietta
Management Services Ltd,.
Worldwide Skypaths Services, Mattini Airline Services Ltd,
Aero Lead Ltd, Sky Bird Air Ltd and Ezuma Jets Ltd,” the agency said.
It is important to note that engaging PNCF holders for
commercial purposes is a violation of the law, and the NCAA will take swift
action against any PNCF holder found to be involved in such activities.
“Furthermore, NCAA officials have been deployed to General
Aviation Terminals (GAT) and private wings of the airports to monitor
activities of the PNCF holders,” the agency said.
In April, the NCAA suspended three private jet owners for
engaging in commercial flight operations.
At that time, the NCAA reported that the use of private jets
for commercial purposes prompted the aviation minister, Festus Keyamo, to issue
directives to cease such activities.
“In line with our zero tolerance for violation of
regulations, the Authority has suspended the PNCF of these operators. To
further sanitise the general aviation sector, I have directed a reevaluation of
all holders of PNCF be carried out on or before the 19th of April 2024 to
ascertain compliance with regulatory requirements,” the NCAA acting Director,
Chris Najomo, was quoted to have said.
Mr Najomo said all “PNCF holders must submit relevant
documents to the authority within the next 72 hours.”
The aforementioned riot act was also directed at current Air
Operator Certificate (AOC) holders who utilize aircraft listed on their Permit
for Non-Commercial Flights (PNCF) for commercial charter operations.
In the meantime, last month, Mr. Keyamo established an
eight-member ministerial task force committee on “illicit private chartered
operations and associated matters” to address alleged money laundering, drug
trafficking, and other illegal activities by private jet operators in Nigeria.
“To stem the practice of illegal chartered operations
including illicit activities raising security and safety concerns culminating
to significant financial losses to the Federal Government, Honourable Minister
of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, CON, FciArb. (UK),
has inaugurated a Ministerial Task Force Committee on illegal private chartered
operations and related matters,” the minister said.