The Ministerial Taskforce on Illegal Air Charter Operations and Related Matters has said, the number of private jets in Nigeria has increased from 44 in 2005 to 157 in 2024.
The committee in a preliminary report, disclosed that private foreign registered aircraft are used for illegal charter operations by some approved chartered operators in the country.
The committee also fingered high-net-worth individuals in the scandal, which has consistently put a question mark on the adherence to regulations by the Private Non-Commercial Flight (PNCF).
This act has also caused huge revenue loss to the federal government and its agencies.
The committee, in its preliminary report, also alleged that the illicit act was not limited to small time operators alone, stressing that the conditions attached to the issuance of the PNCF are grossly violated by the operators.
“In 2005, available records indicate that there were 44 private business jets in the country and 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,” the committee stated.
In a bid to beat the system, the taskforce also purported that the violators of these licences, use a non-existing passenger manifest, which made it difficult to trace.
“The report said: “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/inadequate regulatory issues. Most of the complicit aircraft are foreign registered, removing them from the close scrutiny of the NCAA. This is a huge revenue loss to the coffers of the federal government. ”We have different capacity for the CNG storage. We have 60 litres, 65 litres, 75 litres. So it depends on the concentration of these kits and the nature of the price”. Mr Oworu said.
In his goodwill message, former National President of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, Alhaji Najim Usman Yasin commended President Bola Tinubu’s initiative on the P-CNGi agenda, aimed at converting commercial vehicles to use compressed natural gas (CNG).
Yasin applauded the President’s support for the transport sector and the decision to provide conversion kits free of charge to commercial vehicles, estimated to benefit 1 million vehicles.
He encouraged members of NURTW, NATO, and other road users to key into the program, which aims to reduce the suffering of the masses by decreasing transportation costs and fuel prices.
Yasin thanked the President and organisers for involving transport workers in the program and expressed appreciation for the support from neighboring states.
He emphasized the program’s potential to reduce fuel prices and transportation costs, benefiting the masses. The program is set to roll out across all 36 states in the country.
Yasin said, “This program will move round the 36 states of this country. We, the National Union of Road Transport Workers of Nigeria, National Association of Transport Owners, use this opportunity to commend President Bola Tinubu for this laudable initiative and support for the transport sector n Nigeria.
“I called on entire transport organisations- NURTW, NARTO…etc across the country to key into the programme. They have signed the agreement with the company for the conversion here in our present. We have got the numbers of vehicles that as from today can move to the conversion centres so that this vehicles can be converted one by one.
“This one is strictly for commercial vehicles and that is why we are involved so that we ensure that our members key into this programme. We appreciate
Mr. President and all those that work tirelessly to make this programme a reality.
“We know how much a litre of fuel is now sold and if you fill your tank for N50,000, N45,000, it depends on the number of litres your vehicle is consuming. Before you go from Kaduna to Abuja, that fuel is gone. Automatically, it will affect the transport fare.
“When we start operating this P-CNGI, I think the cost of the price of fuel will come down and it will certainly affect the transportation system in the country. That’s the aim of the PCNGI.
“I thank Mr. President because we are suppose to have bought this conversion kits with money but he said no that they should go round to give it to commercial vehicles free of charge. It was estimated to convert 1 million vehicles free. So, we appreciate Mr. President for finding us fit to key us into this programme.”
