Why Customs Grounded 60 Private Jets At Nigerian Airports

The Nigerian government, via the Nigeria Customs Service, has clarified its decision to ground 60 private jets at key airports across the country due to unpaid customs duties totaling billions of naira.

Nigeria Customs Service spokesperson, Abdullahi Maiwada, confirmed the action to on Wednesday.

He explained that the sealing of the private jets followed multiple announcements and an extension of the verification deadline by the service.

Maiwada emphasized that enforcement was necessary to ensure revenue collection 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 among the grounded luxury aircraft are Bombardier BD-700 Global 6000, BD-700 Global 6500, and BD-700 Global 7500 models, owned by Nigerian banks, prominent business figures, and other VIPs.

However, there are signs that some of the jets have been unsealed as of Wednesday following compliance and interventions.