However, the minister revealed that 80% of private jet owners obtain the PNCF license but use their aircraft for commercial operations daily. “They go and obtain the PNCF license, the private one, but all of them are back every day for business. All of them,” he emphasized.

BY ANTHONY OMOH

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has exposed how illegal charter operations thrive in Nigeria. Speaking at the Federal Ministry of Information & National Orientation 4th Edition of the 2025 Ministerial Press Briefing in Abuja, he revealed that 80% of private jets operate commercially under private licenses. This practice has cost the federal government approximately ₦120 billion in lost revenue over the past decade.  

Keyamo described the issue as a “hydra-headed monster” and vowed to tackle it headlong. “This has been happening for 40 to 50 years,” he said. “When I came in, people told me, ‘Minister, don’t bother yourself. These are the big men who own Nigeria. You cannot tackle them.’ But I said no. I am built to fight this by nature, and I will not let it go.”  

How Illegal Charters Operate and Evade Regulation  

Private jet owners exploit regulatory loopholes to evade proper licensing and taxation, Keyamo explained. When aircraft are brought into Nigeria, owners are required to obtain a license from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA). The license specifies whether the aircraft is for private use (Private Non-Commercial Flight – PNCF) or commercial charter operations.  

“The PNCF license is for private use – for your directors, your family, and social or business events. It attracts a very small fee,” Keyamo said. “But if you tell the NCAA that you want to use the aircraft for commercial charter operations, like a taxi service, where you charge people $10,000 to fly to Calabar and back, you pay a much higher fee.”  

However, the minister revealed that 80% of private jet owners obtain the PNCF license but use their aircraft for commercial operations daily. “They go and obtain the PNCF license, the private one, but all of them are back every day for business. All of them,” he emphasized. “This is how the federal government has been losing revenue.”  

Beyond financial losses, Keyamo highlighted the grave security risks posed by unregulated private charter operations. Many private jets fly in and out of the country without proper documentation or passenger manifests, making it difficult to track who or what is on board. “You don’t even have the manifest of those inside the aircraft,” he said. “Sometimes, when there’s a near accident with a private jet, we struggle to find out who was inside. It’s totally unregulated.”  

Task Force Recommends Sweeping Reforms  

To address the issue, Keyamo set up a task force last year to investigate illegal charter operations. The committee, headed by seasoned aviation expert Captain Ado, submitted its report last week, revealing “mind-boggling” findings. One of the key recommendations is the total shutdown of the private charter wing at airports for comprehensive security and regulatory overhaul.  

“They suggested shutting down the private charter wing for total reconfiguration in terms of security and the kind of machines we use to screen bags,” Keyamo said. “We are still looking into how to implement these recommendations without disrupting passenger movement.”  

The minister assured that the federal government, under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, is determined to tackle the menace headlong. “The president has given us a free hand to fight this menace. They cannot run to the president. The president will send them back because he is determined to do what is right,” Keyamo declared.  

He added that sweeping reforms would be rolled out in the coming weeks based on the task force’s recommendations. “In the next few weeks, we are going to be making far-reaching measures to curb this,” he said. “We are going to tackle it headlong.”  

A New Era for Nigeria’s Aviation Sector 

The minister’s revelations shed light on a long-standing issue that has plagued Nigeria’s aviation sector. For decades, private jet owners have exploited weak regulatory frameworks to operate illegally, depriving the government of much-needed revenue and compromising national security.  

Keyamo’s commitment to addressing the problem marks a significant shift in the government’s approach. However, the success of the proposed reforms will depend on their implementation and the willingness of stakeholders to comply with new regulations.  

As Nigeria moves to curb illegal charter operations, the aviation sector awaits what could be a transformative era in its history – one that prioritizes transparency, security, and revenue generation.