Customs orders private jets’ owners to pay duty in 14 days

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has given owners of 29 private jets/aircraft that were found liable for payment of Customs duty 14 days to settle their outstanding duties.

Public Relations Officer of Customs, Comptroller Joseph Attah, at a briefing in Abuja on Tuesday stated that the values of the 29 private jets/aircraft have been assessed, and the appropriate demand notices issued to their owners for the payment of outstanding duties.

Already, the Federal Aviation Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has been put on notice to ensure only privately-owned aircraft duly verified, and cleared by Customs are authorized to operate within the nation’s airspace.

Attah disclosed that 86 private jets/aircraft operators showed up for the verification exercise in May 2021. Of this number, 57 were verified as commercial charter operators, and were duly cleared for operations.

Attah said: “As you may recall a press conference was held on the 31st of May 2021 in which the public was notified about the commencement of verification of Import documents for privately owned Aircrafts in the country.

“In line with its statutory functions as provided for in PART III Sections27, 35, 37, 45, 46, 47, 52, 56, 63 & 64; Part XI Sections 144, 145, 155, 160, 161&164 and Part XII Sections 167, 168, 169 173&174 of the Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA), all owners of private aircraft in the country were invited to come forward with their relevant importation clearance documents for verification.

“This exercise took place between the 7th of June and August 6th 2021 at the Tariff and Trade Department of the Service. In it the following documents were requested:

*Aircraft Certificate of Registration

*NCAA’s Flight Operations Compliance Certificate (FOCC)

*NCAA’s Maintenance Compliance Certificate (MCC)

*NCAA’s Permit for Non-Commercial Flights (PNCF) and

*Temporary Import Permit (TIP) (where application).

“Within the stipulated period, 86 private jets/aircraft operators showed up for the exercise and presented the relevant documents for verification. Of this number, 57 were verified as commercial charter operators, and were duly cleared for operations.

“Twenty-nine other private jets/aircraft were found liable for payment of Customs duty. Their values were assessed, and the appropriate demand notices issued to their owners for the payment of outstanding duties.

“However, 62 other private jet/aircraft whose registration numbers were duly obtained from the appropriate authority were not verified because their owners or designated representatives made no presentations to Customs that could help determine their status.

“To this effect, all 57 commercial charter jet/aircraft operators who presented their documents for verification are requested to come forward to the Tariff and Trade department of the Nigeria Customs Service Headquarters, Abidjan Street, Wuse Zone 3 Abuja-FCT, Room 312 between 10:00am and 5:00pm to collect their Aircraft Clearance Certificates.

“All 29 Private Jet/Aircraft owners and or their representatives who have been issued with demand notices have been given 14 days from the 11th of October 2021 to collect and make payments to the designated Federal Government accounts after which they will be issued with Aircraft Clearance Certificates.

“The owners of the 62 private aircraft for which no presentations were made for their verification, and whose status remains uncertain are requested to immediately furnish the Tariff and Trade department of the Service with the necessary documents for verification and clearance.”

The Nigeria Customs Service implores all concerned to avail themselves of this opportunity as it will not hesitate to activate enforcement procedures on identified defaulters.

“The Federal Aviation Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has also been put on notice to ensure only privately-owned aircraft duly verified, and cleared by Customs are authorized to operate within our airspace,” Attah said.