Some private jets are used for money laundering, drug trafficking, says Keyamo

“It has come to my attention, through a series of disturbing
reports, that the practice of illegal charter operations is thriving within the
aviation industry, thereby undermining the efforts of the Nigerian Civil
Aviation Authority and other regulatory bodies,” he said.

“These illicit activities have not only resulted in
significant financial losses to the Federal Government but have also raised
security and safety concerns as the operations of private aircraft owners have
remained largely unchecked and unregulated.”

This, Keyamo said, has also resulted in using private
aircraft for other illegal activities.

“Last week, the National Security Adviser wrote to us,
alerting us of the spike in money laundering, drug trafficking and other
illegal activities through the use of private aircraft in the country,” the
minister said.

“It appears that Private Non-Commercial Flight (PNCF)
operators have become increasingly emboldened, continuing their illegal
operations with the assistance of Air Operator Certificate (AOC) holders who
collect tolls and list these illegal charters under their AOCs.

“We have received alarming reports that some crew members
have not attended mandatory simulator trainings for nearly three years and are
flying with fraudulently-obtained renewed licenses.

 “Many of these
individuals are operating planes registered under PNCF but are conducting
illegal charter operations with impunity.

KEYAMO CONSTITUTES
COMMITTEE

To combat the illegal operators, the minister announced the
immediate composition of a ministerial task force on illegal private charter
operations and related matters.

He said some of the responsibilities of the task force
include taking “inventory of all permit for non-commercial flights (PNCF)
holders and air operator certificate (AOC) holders, to determine why the
practice of illegal charters by PNCF holders persists in the country despite
regulatory controls”.

The task force, according to the minister, was also created
to “call in all professional licenses of pilots and crew in the country and
determine their authenticity and validity, and to recommend to the Minister any
additional measures to be taken by regulatory agencies to stem this ugly tide”.

He said the committee is expected to recommend appropriate
penalties to be imposed by the regulatory agencies on defaulters and additional
measures to monitor private aircraft operations in Nigeria.

The minister added that the members of the task force have
been carefully selected from within the aviation industry and are people of
high repute and integrity.

He named Ado Sanusi as chairman of the committee, Roland
Iyayi, as vice-chairman, and acting director of air transport, aviation
ministry as secretary.

Other members of the committee, he said, include Theresa
Babayo, director of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA); Olayinka
Oyesola, commander of the presidential air fleet; Daniel Quansah; Patrick
Ogunlowo; and Obafemi Bajomo, Keyamo’s special assistant (SA).