The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has expressed his displeasure on the activities of private illegal aircraft operators who are engaged in hard drug transportation as well as money laundering in the country.
He added that this illegal charter operation was already thriving within the aviation sector.Keyamo disclosed this at a management meeting in Abuja on Thursday, where he expressed readiness to tackle the perpetrators headlong without any form of shyness.
The PUNCH had exclusively reported the move of the Federal Government, through the Nigerian Customs Service, to clamp down on operators of improperly imported private jets into the country.
80 operators of private jets are expected to appear at the headquarters of Nigeria Customs in Abuja with their aircraft import documents.
The minister, who recalled that it was part of his promise to ensure safety, support for local operators and revenue generation on his assumption of office, insisted that the activities of the illegal operators have not only led to significant financial losses to the Federal Government but have also raised security and safety concerns in the industry.
He said, “It has come to my attention, through a series of disturbing reports, that the practice of illegal charter operations is thriving within the aviation industry, thereby undermining the efforts of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and other regulatory bodies.
“These illicit activities have not only resulted in significant financial losses to the Federal Government but have also raised security and safety concerns as the operations of private aircraft owners have remained largely unchecked and unregulated. This has also resulted in using these private aircraft for other illegal activities.”
