At least 60 private jets owned by some of Nigeria’s most prominent business leaders, including bank executives and oil moguls, have been grounded by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) in a sweeping crackdown on unpaid import duties.
The enforcement operation, which began quietly this week at major airports in Lagos and Abuja, follows months of warnings and a verification exercise aimed at identifying jet owners who failed to pay customs duties running into billions of naira.
Customs officials sealed private hangars and grounded luxury jets, including Bombardier Global 6000, 6500, and 7500 series aircraft. The move comes after the NCS extended its original deadline for compliance from October to November 2024, giving owners additional time to settle their dues. Despite appeals and extensions, many did not comply.
“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,” said Abdullahi Maiwada, spokesperson for the NCS. He emphasized that the agency had “over extended the period” for compliance and is now acting to collect revenue for the country.
Sources say the clampdown has prompted a flurry of lobbying, with some jet owners reaching out to the Presidency for relief. At least one major commercial bank has pledged to settle its outstanding duties within days, while others are negotiating through representatives. An energy company with three jets has also committed to resolving its dues this week.
In a document dated June 4, 2025, and reportedly signed by Deputy Comptroller-General C.K. Niagwan, the NCS indicated that some jets are being “temporarily unsealed” to allow operators to submit documentation and negotiate payment terms. The agency stressed this is not a waiver, but a measure to encourage compliance.
Aviation experts have weighed in on the development. Frank Oruye, a former deputy director of engineering at the now-defunct Nigeria Airways, urged both jet owners and Customs to adhere to global best practices, calling for professionalism and timely payment of government dues. Retired Group Captain John Ojikutu raised security concerns, noting that many of the grounded jets are foreign-registered, which he described as a national security risk.
The clampdown marks a significant shift in Nigeria’s efforts to enforce customs regulations and collect much-needed revenue.
