The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) said 30 out of 65 private airplanes it verified so far are liable to pay required duties to the Federal Government.
Customs Public Relations Officer, Joseph Attah, made this known while speaking in Abuja on Sunday.
Attah said some of the planes came into the country through temporary importation agreement which allows them to bring the jets without payment because it was secured by a bond.
He said that thereafter, many of the owners failed to turn up to pay on the expiration of the agreement which necessitated the verification.
He said the exercise will generate more revenue for the Federal Government because those who failed to adhere to the agreement would be made to pay the duties.
The customs Spokesperson said the verification had also given an opportunity to the service to clearly differentiate those planes in the country that were on commercial operations from those owned and used for private purposes.
Attah said the verification exercise was carried out to ensure that the owners of private aircraft paid required duties to the government.
He further disclosed that the service has again extended the deadline for compliance by the affected private jet owners by two weeks which commenced from Monday, July 26, to Friday, August 6.
“Considering the rising number of compliance and the number of jets that are liable for payment of duties as well as indications by those people to do so, the Comptroller-General has again graciously given them another two weeks.
“The exercise as I stated in our previous briefings, is not intended to be punitive or to embarrass them but to ensure that these private jets that operate in the country are properly documented.
“And also, to ensure every collectable revenue is collected into the coffers of the Federal Government.
“As you all know the case of increasing economic challenge, every source of revenue is important to the government and beyond that, for security purpose.
“With this, you can now tie proper ownership to every aircraft or private jet that flies into and out of the country. Through the exercise, we have been able to know those hiding under temporary importation agreement.
“We are aware that owners of private jets are highly placed Nigerians who should be respected and approached in a manner that provides all necessary convenience and that is what these extensions stands for,” he said.
He said Customs will impound any aircraft that is not verified and on which appropriate duties and levies are not paid at the expiration of the deadline.
