Festus Keyamo, Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, on Thursday in Abuja launched a ministerial task force to combat illegal chartered private jet operations in the country, alleging that quite a number of them are used for money laundering and drug trafficking.
“There were security and safety concerns raised by these illegal operations, including their role in money laundering and drug trafficking,” Keyamo said whilst speaking at the inauguration of the task force.
The aviation minister added that this action by his ministry was targeted at private jet operators who run commercial services without the right licenses, culminating into significant revenue losses for the federal government.
He said, “I am compelled to take decisive action today in alignment with our five-point agenda. When I assumed office, I outlined a five-point agenda focusing on safety, infrastructure, support for local operators, human capacity development, and revenue generation, and have identified key issues in the aviation industry that need immediate attention.”
Keyamo explained that the task force members include individuals from different sectors, including the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).
This newly inaugurated task force has been assigned to take inventory of all PNC (Private Non-Commercial) and ANC (Airline Non-Commercial) holders nationwide, probe why illicit charter operations by PNC holders persist despite regulations, and evaluate the authenticity and validity of professional licenses for pilots and crew members.
The task force is also charged to recommend additional regulatory measures and sanctions for non-compliant operators and monitor private aircraft activities more efficiently.
Captain Ado Sanusi, who is the chairman of the task force, said, “We will do everything within our power to address these challenges and bring them to resolution.”