FG Inaugurates Committee to checkmate illegal Private Jet operations
… Some private aircraft are used for money laundering, drug trafficking others- Kayemo
Oru Leonard
To checkmate irregularities going on in the Aviation sector concerning illegal operation of some private aircrafts in Nigeria the Federal Government of Nigeria has inaugurated a Ministerial Taskforce Committee to checkmate illegal chartered operations in the country.
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, who carried out the inauguration disclosed that some private aircraft operating in Nigeria are being used for money laundering, drug trafficking and other illegal activities.
Though the minister did not mention the names of the airlines, he asserted that these illegal activities have made the sector lose billions of dollars and raised serious security concerns.
The minister further stated that some of those involved in the illegal activities are those who acquired licenses for non-commercial flights operations but gone against the stipulated agreement of the licenses.
Addressing the committee members, Keyamo mandated that they take inventory of all non-commercial flights operators, investigate all professional licenses and checkmate their authencity as well as recommend disciplinary measures against airlines found culpable.
The eight-man committee was chaired by the Chief Executive Office of Aero Contractors, Ado Sanusi, and the committee is expected to report all findings to the minister within the next three months.
Recall that in an interview with Channels TV on the April 14, 2014 the Barr Keyamo warned that the Ministry will arrest and sanction illegal flights and non-certified personnel.
According to the minister, the federal government has received credible information about them and would not hesitate to persecute them.
He also said new private jet owners approach aviation regulators to request approval to use their aircraft to fly family or friends, however, after obtaining the required licence, they begin commercial flights.
