Aviation Minister Sets Up Committee To Checkmate Illegal Private Charter Operations

Under his giant strides to strengthen Civil aviation in Nigeria, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development Festus Keyamo has inaugurated the Ministerial Task Force (MTF), a Seven Man committee Chaired by Captain Ado Sanusi to checkmate the Illegal Private Charter Operations and Related Matters at the Nigerian airports.

While presenting the investigation report of the committee, Captain Sanusi revealed that the Nigerian government is losing billions of Naira in revenue at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport general terminal. He added that most of the private aircraft were involved in money laundering and drug trafficking and advised the minister to shut down the terminal for security purposes.

“Our findings highlight that these illegal activities not only pose a risk to aviation safety but also create an uneven playing ground for legitimate operators.”

“Ninety percent of the criminal activities occur in this general aviation terminal, be it laundering, be it drug trafficking or fugitive transfers, all are being conducted in that general aviation terminal in Abuja.

“It is our humble opinion, that the general terminal should immediately be shut down and reorganized, assessed, and open for business, but that has also been pointed out by International Civil Aviation Organization ICAO security audit.”

“In this report, we have put forward a series of recommendations aimed at strengthening regulatory oversight, enhancing security measures, improving compliance with aviation laws, and ensuring that private charter operations are conducted transparently and in line with international standards.”

In his response, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development Festus Keyamo commended the unwavering commitment of the committee in conducting an intensive investigation on the Illegal Private Charter Operations and Related Matters at Nigerian airports

Keyamo further assured Nigerians that all necessary measures will be taken to ensure that Illegal activities are stopped, especially at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, which was discovered to be the center of these activities.

“We aim to have a safer, more secure aviation ecosystem in Nigeria; people who have worked very hard before we got here to make the place safe, we will not let them down.” He said.

The Minister reiterated the commitment of President Bola Tinubu’s administration to providing a safe and secure environment for the growth of the Civil aviation industry in Nigeria and beyond.

Olusola Akintonde