The Nigerian government has sounded an alarm, accusing prominent Nigerians of utilising private aircraft for activities such as money laundering, drug trafficking, and other unlawful practices.
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, issued this warning on Thursday during the launch of a “Task Force on Illegal Private Charter Operations and Related Matters” in Abuja.
Keyamo expressed concern over the substantial financial losses incurred by the country due to these illicit activities, which he claimed amounted to billions of dollars.
According to the Minister, the lax oversight of private aircraft owners has exacerbated security and safety risks. He cited recent alerts from National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu regarding sharp practices within this sector, which undermine the efforts of regulatory bodies like the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
“These illicit activities not only result in significant financial losses to the Federal Government but also raise serious security and safety concerns, as private aircraft operations remain largely unchecked and unregulated,” Keyamo stated.
He further highlighted instances where private aircraft have been misused for illegal purposes, pointing out recent correspondence from the National Security Adviser detailing an uptick in money laundering, drug trafficking, and related crimes facilitated by private aircraft in Nigeria.
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