The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has expressed serious concerns over the illegal use of private aircraft for money laundering and drug trafficking in Nigeria.
Speaking at a management meeting in Abuja on Thursday, Keyamo highlighted the activities of illegal private aircraft operators who are involved in transporting hard drugs and laundering money.
Keyamo asserted that these illegal operations have become rampant within the aviation sector, undermining regulatory efforts.
“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 stated.
The minister stressed that these illicit activities not only cause significant financial losses to the Federal Government but also raise serious security and safety concerns.
He pointed out that many private aircraft operators remain unchecked and unregulated, allowing for these illegal activities to flourish.
“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 has also resulted in using these private aircraft for other illegal activities,” Keyamo said.
Keyamo also noted that the National Security Adviser had alerted his office about the increasing trend of using private aircraft for illegal activities such as money laundering and drug trafficking.
“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,” he added.
In response to these issues, Keyamo announced the formation of a ministerial Task Force on Illegal Private Charter Operations and Related Matters. The task force will be responsible for taking inventory of all Private Non-Commercial Flight (PNCF) holders and Air Operator Certificate (AOC) holders, determining why illegal charters persist despite regulatory controls, and evaluating the authenticity and validity of professional licenses of pilots and crew.
“To start the fight against these illegal operators, I am announcing the immediate composition of a ministerial Task Force on Illegal Private Charter Operations and Related Matters,” he declared.
The task force will also recommend appropriate sanctions for defaulters and additional measures to monitor private aircraft operations in Nigeria. Keyamo emphasized that the task force members have been carefully selected from within the aviation industry and are people of high repute and integrity.
“The members of the Task Force have been carefully selected from within the aviation industry and are people of high repute and integrity. I wish them well,” he concluded.