In a sweeping enforcement action to recover unpaid import duties, the Federal Government has grounded approximately 60 private jets across major airports in the country. The operation, carried out through the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), is part of efforts to compel jet owners, many of them influential individuals and corporate entities to settle billions of naira owed in customs duties.
NEWS REVIEW gathered that private jet hangars in Lagos and Abuja have been sealed, affecting aircraft owned by bank executives, multinational oil companies, and other high-profile individuals. The affected jets include luxurious models such as the Bombardier BD-700 Global 6000, BD-700 Global 6500, and BD-700 Global 7500.
According to top officials from both the aviation industry and the NCS, the grounding exercise began quietly on Monday, June 2, without prior public notice. It follows months of verification exercises and repeated deadlines issued to jet owners to regularize their import duty payments.
The Customs Service had previously initiated a verification exercise on October 14, 2024, targeting over 60 private jets suspected of duty default. However, enforcement was delayed after the NCS extended the deadline to November 14, 2024. After that deadline passed without further updates, NEWS REVIEW questioned the silence. At the time, Customs spokesperson Abdullahi Maiwada cited ongoing court cases as the reason for the delay.
Speaking to NEWS REVIEW on Wednesday, Maiwada confirmed that enforcement is now underway. “Yes, enforcement has started. The aircraft are grounded for the non-payment of customs duty. As soon as the owners come forward to regularize their payments and give what is due to Nigerians, they will get their aircraft back,” he said.
He added that the NCS had gone to great lengths to encourage voluntary compliance. “We issued a statement when we started the verification and even extended the period. Now that we are enforcing, everyone knows our reason. We must collect revenue for Nigerians,” he stated.
Despite the crackdown, some jet owners have reportedly begun reaching out to the Presidency in a bid to secure the release of their aircraft. NEWS REVIEW learned that one top Nigerian bank has committed to settling its outstanding duties by next Tuesday, while another is negotiating through intermediaries. An energy firm with three grounded jets is also said to be making payment plans.
A leaked internal Customs document, dated June 4, 2025, and signed by Deputy-Comptroller General C.K. Niagwan on behalf of the Comptroller-General, confirmed that some of the grounded jets may be “temporarily unsealed.” The document stated that the temporary release was to allow affected operators to present relevant documentation and negotiate terms for settling their dues. However, the circular clarified that this does not constitute a waiver of any statutory obligations.
Experts in the aviation industry have weighed in on the development, urging both the Nigeria Customs Service and aircraft owners to adopt globally recognized best practices.
Former Deputy Director of Engineering at the defunct Nigerian Airways, Frank Oruye, called for professionalism on both sides. “Operators must pay what is due, and Customs must act in accordance with global aviation standards. Investors and importers should be ready to pay local taxes and customs duties,” he said.
Recalling past frictions between Nigeria Airways and Customs, Oruye criticized what he described as outdated duty assessment methods. “We had issues in the past when components sent abroad for repairs were taxed as if they were new imports. This practice discourages investment,” he noted.
Retired Group Captain John Ojikutu also expressed concern, stating that many of the grounded jets were foreign-registered, a development he described as a security threat. He criticized both the Customs and the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) for failing to properly regulate such aircraft.
“Who permitted these foreign aircraft to operate in Nigeria without proper clearance?” he asked. “When I was at the airport, I grounded Abiola’s aircraft for violating regulations. Foreign jets must not operate without clearance, it’s a national security risk.”
Ojikutu further urged the NCAA to review its regulatory oversight. “In the past, foreign aircraft were only allowed to land at customs-designated airports and could not fly to more than one location without special approval. That level of control must return.”
As the situation develops, the NCS maintains its stance that enforcement will continue until full compliance is achieved. For now, several jets remain grounded at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.
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