The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has threatened to impound 29 private jets if the owners fail to pay import duties within the next 14 days.
In its report on verification of privately-owned airplanes in the country on Tuesday in Abuja, the agency’s spokesperson, Joseph Attah, said private jet owners who complied with the directive, “will be issued with Aircraft Clearance Certificates after payment.”
Customs had on May 31 announced its plan to verify import documents of private owners. The exercise happened between June 7 and August 6 at its Tariff and Trade Department.
Mr Attah explained that within the stipulated period, 86 private jets or airplane operators showed up for the exercise and presented relevant documents for verification.
He said 57 of them were cleared after being verified as commercial charter operators.
The agency said it has put the Federal Aviation Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) on notice that only those jets cleared by Customs were allowed to operate.
(NAN)
