Keyamo to clamp down on illegal private jet operations over money laundering concerns

Festus Keyamo, minister of aviation and aerospace development, has vowed to tackle all illegal chartered operations and related matters in Nigeria.

Keyamo spoke on Tuesday while receiving the report of the seven-member committee on illegal chartered operations and related matters at the ministry’s headquarters in Abuja.

The minister said the issue of illegal charter operations by private jets and private aircraft owners has been besetting Nigeria’s aviation sector.

He said those who obtain licences under the permit for non-commercial flight (PNCF) use the aircraft for other illegal transactions.

Keyamo said the federal government is poised to mitigate the acts, pledging that his ministry will not fail to safeguard the aviation industry in line with its mandate.

“This practice has been going on for many years before I became Minister, but I thought there was a need to confront it headlong,” he said.

“When you cannot track them, it leads to money laundering, drug trafficking, illegal entry and exits into the country and all kinds of illegal activities.”

Keyamo commended the efforts of the task force in producing the report and outlining recommendations to tackle the challenge.

He assured that the ministry would critically examine the report and its recommendations, stressing that it would not be swept under the carpet.

Meanwhile, during the presentation of the report, Ado Sanusi, chairman of the task force, said the committee conducted a thorough investigation into illegal private charter operations in Nigeria and identified critical challenges which include regulatory weaknesses, loopholes in the PNCF system, inadequate oversight, security vulnerabilities, and significant revenue losses to the government.

Sanusi said the findings pose risks to aviation safety and also create an uneven playing field for legitimate operators.

He said part of the committee’s recommendations is that the government should strengthen regulatory oversight, enhance security measures, improve compliance with aviation laws, and ensure that private charter operations are conducted transparently and in line with international standards.

He appealed to the minister to ensure a quick implementation of the suggestions, saying they would create an economically viable aviation industry in Nigeria.