Strong indications emerged that private jet owners, many of who illegally imported their aircrafts have arm-twisted the Nigeria Customs Service to extend its verification exercise for the recovery of import duty on the illegally imported aircrafts by one month.

A government source told our Correspondent that the jet owners, who are also very prominent and wealthy people in the society, merely put a phone call to ‘one Oga at the top’, who in turn called the customs authorities to soft pedal on the exercise.

The source further expressed doubts as to whether the Service would continue with the verification exercise even at the end of the November 14 deadline. The source, who further argued that the verification exercise was a very simple one, which involved only presenting evidence of payment of duty on the aircrafts, wondered what would have changed in the next one month.

He noted that some of the owners of the private jets, especially corporate bodies including banks, who did not want to be embarrassed paid duty on their aircrafts, which runs several billions of naira.

Recall that the Service had Monday this week, issued a statement officially announcing the one-month extension from Monday October 14-Friday, November 14, 2024.

The statement reads in part: “The Nigeria Customs Service NCS wishes to inform the general public, particularly operators of privately-owned aircrafts, that the verification exercise for the recovery of import duty on illegally imported private aircrafts has been extended by one month, from Monday, 14th October 2024, to Thursday, 14th November 2024.

“This extension is to further engage operators who have expressed willingness to regularise their import duty, providing them with an additional window to comply with the necessary regulations. The NCS is committed to ensuring that all illegally imported aircraft meet the legal requirements, thereby promoting transparency and accountability in the aviation sector.

“In light of this extension, the NCS encourages aircraft operators to take full advantage of the extended period to fulfill their obligations, avoiding sanctions that may arise from non-compliance after the deadline.

 “The Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, reiterates the Service’s dedication to enforcing the laws governing import duties and maintaining the integrity of Nigeria’s aviation sector. He further appreciates the cooperation and understanding of stakeholders in this ongoing exercise.”