Nigeria has become the country with the largest private jet market in Africa, but aviation experts say the growing number of private aircraft is exposing major weaknesses in regulation and costing the government billions of naira in lost revenue.
According to the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, about 240 private jets are currently operating in Nigeria. In comparison, the country’s commercial airlines operate only about 80 aircraft, meaning private jets now outnumber commercial planes by almost three to one.
While this may appear to show growth in the aviation industry, experts argue that it instead highlights long-standing regulatory challenges that have allowed some private jet owners to operate illegal commercial charter services.
A report from the Ministerial Task Force on Illegal Private Charter Operations estimated that the Federal Government has lost more than N120 billion over the past decade because of tax evasion, weak enforcement, and gaps in aviation regulations.
The report explained that many operators obtain a Permit for Non-Commercial Flight (PNCF), which is meant only for personal or corporate use. However, some allegedly use these permits to transport paying passengers, avoiding the stricter licensing, taxes, safety rules, and regulatory charges required of commercial airlines.
Investigators also found that some illegal charter flights are allegedly carried out with the assistance of licensed commercial operators who disguise the flights under valid operating certificates.
Beyond the financial losses, security experts believe the situation presents serious national security concerns.
Retired aviation security expert Capt. John Ojikutu called for a nationwide audit of all private jets operating in Nigeria. He said authorities should verify aircraft ownership, registration records, and security compliance to improve transparency across the aviation sector.
According to him, regulators should also determine how many foreign-registered aircraft are operating within Nigeria, whether they have valid security approvals, and if they are complying with the conditions attached to their permits.
He warned that weak monitoring of private aircraft could create opportunities for illegal activities such as money laundering, drug trafficking, kidnapping, illegal mining, and other cross-border crimes.
Ojikutu added that government agencies should carefully investigate aircraft that may have remained in Nigeria beyond the validity of their permits and ensure that all required registrations have been completed.
Former Nigerian Airways pilot Capt. Muhammed Gbadamasi described the problem as one that has existed for decades.
He explained that many private jet owners allegedly exploit cheaper non-commercial permits to avoid paying taxes and meeting the strict certification requirements that commercial airlines must satisfy.
According to him, some operators also avoid paying the mandatory five percent ticket sales tax while presenting questionable insurance documents during inspections.
He further alleged that some aircraft enter Nigeria under Temporary Import Permits but remain in the country permanently without paying the required customs duties.
Gbadamasi also claimed that many aircraft are registered through offshore companies located in foreign tax jurisdictions, making it difficult for tax authorities to identify the real owners or collect the appropriate taxes.
He believes weak cooperation among aviation regulators, customs authorities, and tax agencies has allowed these practices to continue for many years.
Despite these challenges, he acknowledged that the Federal Government has recently increased enforcement efforts.
According to him, the Nigeria Customs Service has grounded some aircraft over unpaid import duties, while courts have ordered the forfeiture of luxury aircraft linked to customs and tax violations.
Authorities have also introduced stricter document verification exercises, requiring operators to provide valid registration and operational certificates before continuing flight operations.
Industry analyst Olumide Ohunayo said Nigeria’s large private jet fleet should not be viewed as a sign of success for the aviation industry.
Instead, he argued that it reflects poor monitoring and weak regulatory enforcement.
He noted that private aviation should generate significant income through customs duties, certification fees, operational charges, and regulatory payments. However, much of that expected revenue is reportedly lost because some operators fail to comply with existing rules.
Ohunayo urged aviation authorities to enforce regulations more strictly, close existing loopholes, and ensure that every aircraft operating within Nigeria contributes fairly to the country’s economy.
