Federal Government Grounds Over 60 Private Jets Over Unpaid Duties, Moves to Enforce Compliance

The Federal Government of Nigeria, through the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), has grounded approximately 60 private jets across major airports in the country. The operation, which began quietly on Monday, June 3, 2025, was confirmed by NCS officials and is aimed at both individually and corporately owned luxury aircraft.

According to sources quoted by Punch, the enforcement has affected high-profile aircraft such as the Bombardier BD-700 Global 6000, 6500, and 7500 series. Hangars at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja were among the first to be sealed, effectively immobilizing a significant portion of Nigeria’s private aviation fleet.

Maritime Truck Drivers Protest To Defend ETO Call-Up, Demand End To Extortion At Ports

Months of Non-Compliance Prompt Enforcement

The Nigeria Customs Service had previously launched a verification exercise in October 2024, giving aircraft owners multiple opportunities to validate their importation documents and settle outstanding duties. Despite repeated extensions and public appeals, many owners failed to comply.

Confirming the development, NCS spokesperson Abdullahi Maiwada stated, “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 emphasized that the Customs Service had exhausted all diplomatic options before resorting to grounding. “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.”

Jet Owners Scramble for Reprieve

The enforcement move has sent shockwaves through elite circles, with several high-net-worth individuals and corporations now lobbying for leniency or extensions. Sources within both the aviation and customs sectors revealed that some of Nigeria’s most powerful business figures—including bank CEOs and oil tycoons—have reached out to the Presidency and other top officials in a bid to soften the government’s stance.

One major commercial bank is said to have committed to clearing its outstanding duties by Tuesday next week, while another is reportedly in negotiations with Customs through intermediaries. An energy company, believed to own three of the grounded jets, has also pledged to settle its dues within the coming days.

These developments suggest that the NCS’s firm approach may be yielding results, as jet owners rush to avoid further reputational damage and operational disruption.

Customs Opens Door to Temporary Relief

Barely days into the clampdown, the NCS appears to be adjusting its position slightly. A document dated June 4, 2025, and signed by Deputy Comptroller-General C.K. Niagwan on behalf of the Comptroller-General of Customs, approved the “temporary unsealing” of a limited number of the grounded aircraft.

This temporary measure, according to the document, is intended solely to allow affected operators to present the required documentation and negotiate terms for settling their import duties and taxes. It does not, however, equate to a waiver or reduction in obligations.

“The unsealing is to facilitate compliance,” a Customs source explained. “It is not an amnesty. The aircraft owners still need to clear their obligations fully, but we are offering them a platform to resolve these issues constructively.”

A meeting has also been scheduled in Abuja between the NCS and affected jet owners. The goal is to create a structured roadmap for compliance that addresses not only financial dues but also legal and procedural questions surrounding the aircraft importation processes.

Symbol of Fiscal Responsibility or Targeting the Elite?

The clampdown has ignited public debate on social media and in policy circles. Supporters of the move hail it as a bold stance against elite tax evasion, praising the Customs Service for taking decisive action. They argue that luxury aircraft should not be exempt from taxation and that every naira recovered can contribute to national development.

Critics, however, suggest the timing and public nature of the enforcement might be politically motivated or designed to send a message ahead of broader fiscal reforms.

Still, the NCS has made its position clear—this is about accountability. “We are hopeful and we know they will comply,” Maiwada concluded, signaling the agency’s willingness to work with aircraft owners who show genuine intent to settle their dues.

A New Era of Compliance

With luxury aviation now firmly in the government’s regulatory crosshairs, the move could mark a new era of fiscal discipline among Nigeria’s wealthiest individuals and corporations. By taking on high-value tax evasion in such a public manner, the Federal Government appears committed to tightening revenue collection across sectors.

As meetings proceed and more owners return to the table, industry stakeholders will be watching closely to see if the NCS maintains its momentum—or makes further concessions. One thing is certain: the days of unregulated luxury aircraft operations in Nigeria may be coming to an end.