Some Chartered Operators Are Economic Saboteurs, Undermine Air Safety, State’s Security: Task Force Constituted To Smash Racketeers

A private Jet on display for private charter

According to the Minister of Aviation & Aerospace Development, Mr Festus Keyamo, the intelligence report by the state’s security service has revealed a “spike in money laundering, drug-trafficking and other illicit activities through the use of private aircraft in the country”.

The Minister also acknowledged that the nefarious activities of this group of chattered operators were plied successfully under the purported eagle eye of the air transport regulator, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA.

Keyamo lamented thus, “Last week, the National Security Adviser, NSA, 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”.

These much and more were revealed by the Aviation Minister while inaugurating an Eight (8) Man Ministerial Taskforce On Illegal Private Charter Operations And Related Matters

The Minister added, “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”.

Another aspect of concern to the government was the gross lack of certification and the expiration in the currency of licenses bandied around to operate what ought to be a Private None Commercial Charter but, ostensibly used for commercial reward against the official approval by the NCAA.

Keyamo thus announced, “Furthermore, we have received alarming reports that some crew members have not attended mandatory simulator training for nearly three years, and are flying with fraudulently obtained renewed licenses”.

He further noted that “Many of these individuals are operating planes registered under Private None Commercial Flight, PNCF, but are conducting illegal charter operations with impunity” and making so much revenue yet taxes due to the government were never remitted.

Ipso facto, Keyamo inferred that he was compelled to constitute the 8-Man Task Force to unravel the immediate and the remote attraction to the illegal operation and steps to take to bring culprits to book and measures to embark upon in making such illegal operation very unattractive.

TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR COMMITTEE MEMBERS;

1. To take inventory of all PNCF holders and AOC holders.
2. To determine why the practice of illegal charters by PNCF holders persists in the country despite regulatory controls.
3. To call in all professional licenses of pilots and crew in the country and determine their authenticity and validity.
4. To recommend to the Minister any additional measures to be taken by regulatory agencies to stem this ugly tide.
5. To recommend appropriate sanctions to be imposed by the regulatory agencies on defaulters.
6. To recommend additional measures to further monitor the operations and activities of private aircraft in Nigeria
7. Any other terms of reference that may be determined by the Minister as the Task Force continues its work.
   TASK FORCE MEMBERS COMPOSITION:
   According to the Minister, “members of the Task Force have been carefully selected from within the aviation industry and are people of high repute and integrity”.

The members of the Task Force are as follows;

** Capt. Ado Sanusi – Chairman,
** Capt. Roland lyayi – Vice Chairman
** Director of Air Transport, FMA&AD – Secretary
** Theresa A. Babaoye (DATR-NCAA) – Member
** One Nominee from the National Security Adviser – Member
** Capt. Daniel Quansah – Member
** Capt. Patrick Ogunlowo – Member
** Obafemi H. Bajomo (SA-HMA) – Member

Speaking further on the terms of the task force, Keyamo said, “This Task Force is not only a response to the current challenges but also a proactive step towards ensuring the long-term sustainability and integrity of our aviation sector. We expect the Task Force to work for 3 months, except circumstances require some extension”.

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