Private Jet Operators Come Under Minister’s Fire for Illegal Charter Flights

Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has accused private jet operators of running illegal charter services for over 40 years. He said this has cost the government billions in lost revenue and created security risks.

Speaking at the 2025 ministerial press briefing in Abuja on March 13, Keyamo said his administration set up a task force to investigate the issue. The findings, he stated, were alarming.

“We inherited a major problem when we assumed office, and we have decided to tackle it head-on. These private jets have been operating largely unchecked, doing whatever they like. Beyond that, they also deny the federal government substantial revenue,” Keyamo said.

According to him, private jet owners avoid higher fees by using Private Non-Commercial Flight (PNCF) licenses. These are meant for personal or corporate use, but many secretly run charter services with them.

Government Loses Billions to Illegal Operations

Keyamo revealed that in the last decade alone, the government lost about ₦100 billion due to these illegal charter flights.

“The PNCF license is much cheaper because it is for private use—flying company directors, family members, or personal business trips. But those who want to carry passengers for a fee must obtain a different, more expensive license,” he explained.

The minister also raised the issue of security. Some private jets, he said, operate international flights without full documentation of passengers or cargo.

“These jets are used for business daily, defrauding the government of revenue. Even worse, many apply to fly out of the country on charter flights without proper paperwork. In many cases, authorities do not even have a complete passenger manifest or details of what is being transported. This is a serious security threat,” he warned.

To address the problem, the task force recommended tightening regulations and improving monitoring. There was even a proposal to shut down the General Aviation Terminal (GAT), which serves private charters, for a full security review.

However, Keyamo assured the public that reforms would be implemented without disrupting normal passenger operations.

“The President has given us a free hand to address this problem. Regardless of who is affected, we will ensure the law is followed,” he stated.

With the government now focusing on private jet regulations, many expect tougher enforcement of air regulations in the coming months.

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