The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced a one-month suspension of its enforcement action against private jet owners over alleged import duty evasion, offering temporary relief to dozens of high-profile aircraft operators.
The suspension, which took effect on Thursday, follows a clampdown launched earlier in the week that saw over 60 private jets grounded at the international terminals of Lagos’ Murtala Muhammed Airport and Abuja’s Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport.
The aircraft, many of which are foreign-registered, were operating under the Permit for Non-Commercial Flight (PNCF). This license allows private individuals to fly aircraft for personal, non-commercial use.
The clampdown was triggered by findings that several private jet owners had failed to pay the required import duties on their aircraft.
However, in an exclusive interview with Leadership newspaper, the NCS National Public Relations Officer, Dr. Abdulahi Maiwada, revealed that the crackdown has been temporarily suspended following a mutual agreement between the Service and the affected jet owners.
Maiwada said: “The service grounded some aircraft, but we have done some consultations, and there is a mutual understanding.
“We reached an agreement to suspend the action for one month so that others will come forward and comply. The private jet owners are willing to do the right thing — it’s about the regularisation of Customs duty, and we are working on that.”
Customs officials say the temporary suspension will allow owners to settle outstanding duties.
The Service has also signalled that further enforcement may resume after the one-month window if compliance is not achieved.
