A report by the Ministerial Task Force on Illegal Private Charter Operations has revealed that the Federal Government has lost over N120 billion in revenue over the past decade due to illegal charter operations, regulatory loopholes, and weak enforcement by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
The report, commissioned by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, and sighted by *DAILY MENTOR*, highlights critical issues such as security breaches, lack of interagency cooperation, and outdated policies stifling the growth of the aviation sector.
According to the report, “Over the past decade, Nigeria lost an estimated N120 billion in statutory revenue from the sector due to regulatory loopholes.”
Some of the major entities listed in the report include Arik Air Ltd, BUA International Limited, Dominion Air Limited, Executive Jets Services, Max Air Ltd, Rivers State Government, Julius Berger Nig. Ltd, and Nestoil Plc.
In response, the task force has outlined several measures to curb illegal operations and restore order in the sector. Key recommendations include the closure and restructuring of the General Aviation Terminal in Abuja to address critical security lapses and the repeal of the controversial 22-year aircraft age ban, which has been criticized as arbitrary and restrictive to industry growth.
The task force also emphasized the need to strengthen oversight by the NCAA to ensure full compliance with aviation regulations. To enhance accountability, a licensing framework for air charter brokers will be introduced to bring more transparency to the sector.
“By implementing these measures, Nigeria can restore regulatory integrity, enhance safety, and position its aviation sector for long-term sustainability and global competitiveness,” the report stated.
However, aviation experts have criticized the effectiveness of the task force, arguing that without strict enforcement, illegal activities will persist.
Aviation security expert and CEO of Centurion Security Limited, John Ojikutu, described the task force as “a waste of time,” blaming the NCAA for failing to enforce existing laws.
“Most of these charter aircraft are owned by political office holders or people connected to them. It’s an indictment on the NCAA. When you’re talking about enforcement of regulation, it’s the NCAA,” he said.
Ojikutu also questioned the regulation of foreign-registered aircraft, stating, “Most of these charter flights are foreign-registered aircraft. Have you been able to identify them? Who brought them in? What is the regulation on foreign-registered aircraft operating in this country?”
He emphasized that illegal flights are being protected by high-profile figures, making enforcement difficult. “All these foreign-registered aircraft are the ones doing these illegal flights. And they cannot run after them because they are all political officers or political friends,” he added.
Aviation analyst and member of the Aviation Round Table, Olumide Ohunayo, acknowledged systemic failures but called for a collaborative approach to solving the crisis.
“The most important thing here is that we have accepted there was failure and lapses in the system and protocol in place. And we have also accepted that before operations, even the process of bringing in those aircraft also had loopholes that were exploited by these illegal operators,” he said.
Ohunayo proposed moving aviation processes online to improve transparency and called for stronger oversight by customs authorities on aircraft importation and operations.
A source who spoke anonymously highlighted the challenges in proving illegal charter operations, explaining how private aircraft owners disguise commercial operations to evade detection.
“PNCF holders are flying more than licensed operators. Something like ‘hire and reward’ is not clearly defined. So when you say someone has undertaken a commercial work for hire and reward, how do you prove it?” the source said.
The source also revealed that payments for illegal charters are often made in cash and through proxies, making it difficult to track transactions.
Recall that in June 2024, Minister Festus Keyamo established the ministerial task force to address illegal private charter operations. The task force was assigned to conduct an inventory of all private non-commercial flight holders and air operator certificate holders, following complaints from legitimate operators about money laundering, illegal drug smuggling, and security concerns raised by intelligence agencies.
The task force was given a three-month deadline to finalize its report and present it to the ministry.