The federal government has lost over N120 billion to illegal private jet operators, who engage in private jet charter in the last 10 years.
This was part of the findings of the investigation conducted by the committee on illegal chartered airlines and their activities at the Nigeria airports.
The chairman of the committee, Sanusi Ado, while presenting the report to the minister of aviation and aerospace development, Festus Keyamo in Abuja on Tuesday, said private jet owners’ license to operate for private citizens are now engaging in commercial activities and causing the government to lose so much revenue.
According to him, “we did look at the revenue loss over a period of 10 years. We estimate it is over N120 billion. Over 120 billion, over a period of 10 years.”
Ado further stated that lack of proper regulation, inadequate oversight are some of the reasons why these private jet owners succeed in engaging on illegal charter.
Speaking on the dangers of these activities of illegal private jet owners, Ado said this has created room for criminal activities such as drug trafficking, money laundering among others.
Reacting to this, the minister said “As the chairman pointed out, lack of regulation of the private jet owners leads to criminal activity. So it starts with lack of regulation. It starts with an illegal charter. And then when you cannot track them, it then leads to money laundering, drug trafficking, and all kinds of things. And that of course will also lead to illegal entry and exits into the country. So it is actually a national security problem that we are facing.”
He further stated that the report will not be swept under the carpet, noting that some hard decisions will be taken and people in high places, who engage in these practices will be dealt with.
The minister said he would consult with all necessary stakeholders and come out with the best possible ways of implementing the recommendations made in the report.
“We are going to look at this and then come up with very practical solutions. Very practical steps that we must take. What we will not do is to back down, to say there is nothing we can do. If it means going to tell Mr. President that, look, we want to touch some untouchables, we will do so. And I know this president that we have, he is determined to do the right thing.
He has not called one minister one day to say, don’t touch this or don’t touch that person. He has not done so.
I can testify to that as a member of cabinet. So we are very confident that we are going to have a free hand to do what we have to do. Our aim really is to have a safer, more secure aviation ecosystem in Nigeria. People who have worked very hard before we got here to make the place safe, we will not let them down. People who have worked very hard in this industry for years to create a safer environment, regulatory standards to ensure that lives are safe when they move from place to place. We will not come and then drop the ball. The duty we have is to increase regulatory standards and to make them more safer for everyone,” the minister stated.
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