The minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has accused some Nigerians of using the services of private jet operators in the country to launder money and traffic hard drugs.

The minister expressed his displeasure over the activities of private illegal aircraft operators.

Keyamo noted that this illegal charter operation was already thriving within the aviation sector before he took over.

The minister disclosed this at a management meeting in Abuja on Thursday, June 27.

Keyamo expressed readiness to tackle the perpetrators headlong with all seriousness.

The Nigerian Customs Service recently revealed plans to clamp down on operators of illegally imported private jets into the country.

About 80 operators of private jets are expected to appear at the headquarters of Nigeria Customs in Abuja with their aircraft import documents.

He said, “It has come to my attention, through a series of disturbing reports, that the practice of illegal charter operations is thriving within the aviation industry, thereby undermining the efforts of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and other regulatory bodies.

“These illicit activities have not only resulted in significant financial losses to the Federal Government but have also raised security and safety concerns as the operations of private aircraft owners have remained largely unchecked and unregulated. This has also resulted in using these private aircraft for other illegal activities.”

He also stated that the owners of the illegal aircraft have been operating in collusion with some legitimate aircraft operators, who have been allowing the illegal operators to use their licenses and certificates to carry out their illegal activities.

While enumerating his displeasure over the development, the minister mentioned that the office of the National Security Adviser has also noticed the trend of increasing money laundering, drug trafficking and other illegal activities through the use of private aircraft in the country.

These illicit activities have not only resulted in significant financial losses to the Federal Government but have also raised security and safety concerns as the operations of private aircraft owners have remained largely unchecked and unregulated. This has also resulted in using these private aircraft for other illegal activities.

“Last week, the National Security Adviser wrote to us, alerting us of the spike in money laundering, drug trafficking and other illegal activities through the use of private aircraft in the country. It appears that Private Non-Commercial Flight (PNCF) operators have become increasingly emboldened, continuing their illegal operations with the assistance of Air Operator Certificate (AOC) holders who collect tolls and list these illegal charters under their AOCs,” Keyamo added.

The minister announced the immediate composition of a ministerial Task Force on Illegal Private Charter Operations and Related Matters.

The task force will be responsible for: “Taking inventory of all PNCF holders and AOC holders; To determine why the practice of illegal charters by PNCF holders persists in the country despite regulatory controls; To call in all professional licenses of pilots and crew in the country and determine their authenticity and validity; To recommend to the Minister any additional measures to be taken by regulatory agencies to stem this ugly tide.

“To recommend appropriate sanctions to be imposed by the regulatory agencies on defaulters and to recommend additional measures to further monitor the operations and activities of private aircraft in Nigeria,” Keyamo added.