Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has reaffirmed plan by the Federal Government to introduce strict measures to regulate private jet operations and curb illegal charter activities.
Underscoring this in his remarks at the Ministerial Press Briefing in Abuja, Keyamo warned that the government would implement new regulations to monitor private jet usage.
“The issue of the closure of jets is a recommendation so far. Like I said, we may not go that far. However, we will roll out measures to curb illegal charter or private jets and the activities they engage in. We will roll it out. And when we roll them out, please, nobody should complain,” he warned.
The minister also emphasised that private jet passengers would now be required to provide proper documentation before their flights are cleared for take-off. He insisted that all passengers, regardless of their social or economic status, must comply with the new regulations.
He said, “The second one is that the tower will not clear you to fly unless the pilot files a manifest of those people on that aircraft, whether you are a big man or not. Whether you are a big man or not, the tower will not clear you to take off.
“They will ground the aircraft until you file a flight plan with the passengers on that aircraft and their ID card. Why will poor people or normal people want to buy a board commercial? They will say, here is your ID card; compare it to your ticket. Are the big men better than us? They must also bring their ID cards,” he declared.
