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Nigerian Customs Grounds 60 Private Jets Of Bank Executives, Oil Moguls, Others Amid Crackdown On Unpaid Duties

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The clampdown also led to the sealing of private jet hangars at Lagos and Abuja airports.

The Nigerian Government has grounded at least 60 private jets across major Nigerian airports as part of a crackdown on owners who have allegedly failed to pay import duties running into several billions of naira.

According to The PUNCH, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), which spearheaded the operation, confirmed that several luxury aircraft—including Bombardier Global 6000, 6500, and 7500 series—were affected.

The clampdown also led to the sealing of private jet hangars at Lagos and Abuja airports.

The reports stated that the aviation and customs sectors disclosed on Wednesday that the move followed a verification exercise launched to identify private jet owners who had defaulted.

 

The initiative, originally slated to commence on October 14, 2024, was delayed after the NCS extended the deadline to November 14, 2024.

Among the affected are high-profile individuals, including bank executives, oil industry magnates, and executives of multinational companies.

Many of them are reportedly lobbying the Presidency in a bid to secure the release of their grounded aircraft.

However, despite the expiration of the initial deadline on November 14, 2024, the NCS remained silent about its planned enforcement against private jet owners who had failed to pay outstanding customs duties.

When questioned about the agency’s inaction at the time, the NCS spokesperson, Abdullahi Maiwada, explained that multiple court cases had delayed enforcement.

However, fresh findings on Wednesday revealed that the NCS had quietly begun grounding both privately and corporately owned jets.

 

The clampdown reportedly started on Monday without any new public notice, according to affected stakeholders.

Sources disclosed to The PUNCH that NCS officials sealed several aircraft at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja. This marks a major enforcement step by the agency, seven months after it issued final warnings to defaulters.

When contacted, Maiwada confirmed the development, stating that the NCS had commenced enforcement and would continue until all outstanding payments were made.

“Yes, enforcement has started. The aircraft are grounded for the non-payment of customs duty, and as soon as they come over to regularise their payment and give what is due to Nigerians, they will get it back,” he said.

He added, “We issued a statement when we started the verification, and we extended the period and even ‘over extended the period’, now that we are acting, everyone already knows our reason.

“We just have to enforce, we have to collect revenue for Nigerians so that it will be used for Nigerians.”

Maiwada emphasised that several appeals were made to the defaulting aircraft owners to regularise their documentation or pay applicable duties, but many failed to comply.

“Now that they’re grounded, they will have to respond. We believe they will comply,” he said.

Meanwhile, credible sources within the Customs Service disclosed that some jet owners have started lobbying for the release of their aircraft, with some even reaching out to the Presidency.

One major commercial bank has reportedly pledged to settle its outstanding duties by next Tuesday, while another is negotiating indirectly through its representatives.

An energy company operating three jets has also made commitments to resolve its dues within the week.

Amidst the pressure, there are reports that the NCS is considering temporary relief for some owners. A document dated June 4, 2025, allegedly signed by Deputy Comptroller-General C.K. Niagwan on behalf of the Comptroller-General, indicates that some grounded jets are being “temporarily unsealed.”

According to the document, the temporary measure is aimed at allowing operators to submit relevant documentation and engage with the agency to agree on modalities for settling outstanding duties and taxes.

It stressed that the action does not amount to a waiver of statutory obligations but is intended solely to facilitate compliance. Only a select number of aircraft are affected by this measure.

Reacting to the development, Frank Oruye, a former deputy director of engineering at the now-defunct Nigeria Airways, urged both private jet operators and the Customs Service to adopt global best practices in their operations.

He appealed to aircraft owners to pay what is due to the government and advised the Customs to act professionally in their dealings.

Oruye also recounted long-standing disputes between the defunct Nigeria Airways and the NCS over aircraft components, specifically high-cost items known as Rotables.

Similarly, retired Group Captain John Ojikutu raised security concerns, revealing that many of the grounded jets are foreign-registered—a situation he described as a threat to national security.

 

He blamed both the Customs and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) for failing to control the influx and operation of undocumented aircraft.

“When I was at the airport, I seized Abiola’s aircraft twice! Why are people behaving this way nowadays? In Demuren’s days, such wouldn’t have happened,” he recalled.

 

“All these things happening are risky, not even now that we don’t know the people in charge of the insurgency. To now fly foreign aircraft without clearance is a threat to national security.  Both customs and the NCAA should be blamed for allowing them to fly such aircraft in the country,” he said.

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BREAKING: Police take over PDP Secretariat in Abuja

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As tension continues to mount over the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, National Executive Committee, NEC, meeting, which is expected to hold on Monday, armed policemen have taken over its secretariat.

According to an official of the party who spoke to newsmen, the police were deployed to stop the proposed NEC Expanded Caucus Meeting.

Though some staff members of the party were initially allowed to go into the premises of the secretariat without any resistance from the police, they were later sent out.

At the time of filing this report, journalists were also asked to leave the premises of the secretariat, while some policemen were seen cordoning off Dalaba Street, which is the road leading to Wadata Plaza.

Details shortly…

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Police arrest suspected cultist during meeting, recover firearm in Ogun

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Operatives from the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Unit, Ogun State Police Command, have arrested a suspected member of the Eiye Confraternity, Ismail Afolabi, at Saje Area of Car Wash, Abeokuta.

The suspect was arrested following credible intelligence received by the police that members of the Eiye Confraternity were holding a secret meeting with the intention to carry out criminal activities.

The police spokesperson, Omolola Odutola, confirming the arrest to DAILY POST on Sunday, said the suspect was apprehended while attempting to flee.

Odutola stated that he was found in possession of a cross bag containing a loaded cut-to-size double-barrel shotgun and live ammunition.

She said, “On Friday, June 27, 2025, at about 05:30 pm , the Ogun State Police Command received credible intelligence that members of the Eiye Confraternity were holding a clandestine meeting with suspected criminal intent at the Saje Area of Car Wash, Abeokuta.

“Operatives from the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Unit swiftly mobilized to the scene. On arrival, one suspect, Ismail Afolabi ‘m’, was found in possession of a cross-body bag containing a cut-to-size double-barrel shotgun loaded with live ammunition.”

The spokesperson noted that preliminary investigations have commenced, and efforts are ongoing to track down other accomplices.

The Command restated its commitment to eradicating cult-related violence and maintaining peace and order in the state.

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Suspected gunmen kidnap man in Benue

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Gunmen have kidnapped a middle-aged man, Ortese Tarlumun Joseph, in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, after shooting at his family during an attempted escape.

Security analyst Zagazola Makama revealed the incident in a post on X on Sunday.

He said the abduction happened on Friday, June 27, around 6:00 p.m. near Tomanyiin Main Village in Nzorov district.

Sources told Makama that Ortese was returning from the farm with his wife and son when two armed men came out of the bush and ordered them to lie down.

“Out of fear, the family tried to run, and the gunmen fired two gunshots.

“Mrs. Ortese said she later heard her husband calling for help but could not find him. It was later discovered that the attackers had taken him away,” Makama wrote

The family’s Toyota Corolla was found at the scene.

Security personnel launched a search operation shortly after the incident, but neither the kidnappers nor the victim had been found at the time of reporting.

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