By Dickson Omobola

Less than a month after the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Festus Keyamo,

inaugurated a task force on illegal air charter operations and related matters, the committee has revealed that the complicit aircraft were foreign registered.

The committee, in a preliminary report, also disclosed that the illegal air charter operations were not only restricted to small time operators, but also include some high-net-worth individuals, using their private jets.

The report stated: “In 2005, available records indicate that there were 44 private business jets in the country. In 2024, the number of private business aircraft operating in the country has risen to 157. That’s an increase of 357 per cent within two decades.

“There are 62 Private Non-Commercial Flight, PNCF, licenses in operation. We have, indeed, uncovered the prevalence of illegal air charter operations in the country. Even more alarming is the fact that we have uncovered that these illegal air charter operations are not only restricted to small time operators, but also include some high-net-worth individuals, using their private jets.

“Opaque passenger manifesting, conflicting  or inadequate regulatory issues. Most of the complicit aircraft are foreign registered, removing them from the close scrutiny of the NCAA, causing huge revenue loss to the coffers of the gederal government.”

On June 27, Keyamo inaugurated Capt. Ado Sanusi (Chairman); Capt. Roland lyayi  (Vice Chairman); Capt. Daniel Quansah (Member); Capt. Patrick Ogunlowo (Member) among others, to investigate illegal air charter operations in the country.

This came after numerous complaints by legitimate commercial air charter operators.

The task force was given three months to complete its report and submit the same to the ministry.

Keyamo had 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 Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, and other regulatory bodies.”