To recover unpaid import duties from private jet owners, the Federal Government, through the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), has grounded around 60 private jets at major airports across Nigeria, according to findings by The PUNCH. It was further learned that jet hangars in Lagos and Abuja have also been sealed. In response, several owners—ranging from bank executives to multinational oil firms—have begun lobbying the Presidency for the release of their aircraft.
Among the affected jets are high-end models like the Bombardier BD-700 Global 6000, 6500, and 7500 series. Officials from both Customs and the aviation sector confirmed the action on Wednesday, citing widespread failure among owners to pay import duties. These unpaid levies are estimated to run into billions of naira.
Customs had earlier directed private jet owners to undergo a verification exercise to determine who had defaulted on duty payments. On October 14, 2024, The PUNCH reported that over 60 jets were to be grounded starting that day. However, the NCS later extended the deadline by a month, pushing it to November 14. After the extension expired, there was silence from the agency, which later attributed the delay to court challenges.
This week, however, the enforcement quietly began. Grounding started Monday without prior public notice. Aircraft at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja were among the first sealed.
Spokesperson for the Customs, Abdullahi Maiwada, confirmed the development, explaining that the jets were grounded over non-payment of customs duties. He emphasized that enforcement would continue until all outstanding revenues were recovered. He noted that the verification exercise had been generously extended and that enough time had been given for compliance.
“We issued a statement, extended the deadline, even over-extended it. Now that we are acting, everyone knows why. We must collect revenue for Nigerians to benefit from,” he said. Maiwada recalled that several appeals had been made to defaulters, which were ignored. “Now that we’ve grounded them, they’ll have to comply. We’re hopeful they will.”
Sources within Customs revealed that some jet owners are now reaching out to top government offices, including the Presidency. One major Nigerian bank has reportedly agreed to settle its dues by Tuesday, while another is in indirect negotiations. An energy company with three jets is also said to have committed to payment in the coming days.
Meanwhile, there are reports that Customs may be considering a temporary unsealing of certain jets. A document dated June 4, 2025, signed by a Deputy Comptroller General, C.K. Niagwan, on behalf of the Comptroller-General, showed that approval was granted for “temporary unsealing” to allow operators to submit documentation and engage in discussions over how to resolve the outstanding payments. However, the document stated that this does not constitute a waiver of legal obligations and is only meant to encourage compliance. Only a handful of aircraft are currently affected by this temporary relief.
Aviation experts have weighed in on the situation. Frank Oruye, a former deputy director of engineering at the now-defunct Nigerian Airways, urged both private jet operators and Customs to adopt international best practices. He called on aircraft owners to meet their obligations while also advising Customs to act professionally.
Oruye recounted past conflicts between Nigeria Airways and Customs over import duties on aircraft parts. He explained how customs often levied full duties on previously imported and taxed components after they were returned from maintenance abroad, a practice not in line with global standards. “Investors shouldn’t be overburdened. There needs to be a balance,” he added.
Retired Group Captain John Ojikutu also expressed concern, highlighting that many of the grounded jets are foreign-registered, which he described as a potential national security risk. He criticized both the Customs and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) for failing to enforce proper oversight.
Reflecting on his own experience, Ojikutu recalled grounding aircraft that flouted regulations, including planes owned by the late business mogul Kashimawo Abiola. He questioned why foreign aircraft are allowed to operate freely without appropriate clearance, especially in a time of rising national security threats. He urged the NCAA to review and enforce relevant regulations, warning that the current laxity is dangerous.
The unfolding situation marks a significant escalation in the Federal Government’s efforts to ensure compliance with aviation tax regulations and may signal tighter enforcement in the sector going forward.
