2027 Campaigns: Illegal Private Jet Charters Threaten Federal Revenue, Aviation Safety
Nigeria’s aviation sector may face increased revenue losses and heightened safety risks as political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections are expected to drive up demand for private jet services, with aviation experts warning that some operators could exploit regulatory loopholes to run unauthorised charter flights.
The Federal Government is already estimated to have lost about ₦120 billion over the past decade to illegal private jet charter operations, according to findings by the Ministerial Task Force on Illegal Private Charter Operations.
Aviation stakeholders fear that the anticipated surge in air travel by politicians, party leaders, government officials and corporate executives could encourage more aircraft owners to operate commercial charter services without the requisite licences, taxes, insurance and safety approvals.
At the centre of the controversy is the alleged abuse of Permits for Non-Commercial Flight (PNCF), which are issued for private use but are reportedly being exploited by some holders to offer paid charter services.
Such practices, experts warn, not only deprive the government of statutory revenue but also expose passengers to potential safety hazards while placing licensed charter operators and domestic airlines at a competitive disadvantage.
Speaking exclusively to LEADERSHIP, aviation analyst Dr James Oduadu said electioneering campaigns traditionally generate substantial demand for on-demand air transport, particularly to destinations poorly served by scheduled airlines.
He warned that the limited number of aircraft operating legally under valid Air Operator Certificates (AOCs) for charter services could create a supply gap that encourages unauthorised operators to enter the market.
“Without deliberate intervention, we are likely to see an increase in such practices during this campaign period,” Oduadu said.
He identified the demand for speed, privacy, cash-based transactions and perceived weak enforcement, particularly at secondary airports, as factors that could fuel illegal charter operations.
Oduadu cautioned that passengers who hire aircraft from unauthorised operators could face serious legal and financial consequences if an incident occurs, especially where the aircraft lack appropriate commercial insurance, safety oversight, crew training and maintenance compliance.
He urged individuals and organisations seeking private air transport to verify operators’ AOC status, insist on proper charter documentation and insurance, and report suspected illegal operations to the relevant authorities.
Also raising concerns, the Chief Executive Officer of Centurion Aviation Security Services, Capt. John Ojikutu (rtd), said the growing reliance on private aircraft by politicians, senior government officials and corporate executives was affecting demand for premium seats on scheduled domestic flights.
According to him, some domestic airlines have complained that first-class and business-class seats remain unoccupied as high-profile passengers increasingly turn to private aircraft.
Ojikutu argued that private aircraft owners offering commercial services must comply with the same applicable safety and security regulations as licensed operators.
He warned that unauthorised charter services could further undermine domestic airlines’ revenues, worsening their ability to meet financial obligations to government agencies and ground-handling service providers.
The aviation security expert also called for tighter scrutiny of foreign-registered private aircraft operating in Nigeria, urging the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and security agencies to verify aircraft registration documents, crew licences, airworthiness records and security clearances.
He questioned whether all foreign-registered aircraft operating extensively within the country had the necessary approvals and were complying with the conditions and time limits attached to their permits.
Ojikutu further called for greater transparency in investigations into reported aviation incidents, including a foreign-registered aircraft that allegedly diverted from its filed flight plan and a private jet whose door reportedly separated during flight.
He said authorities should establish whether the aircraft involved complied with applicable operational and safety requirements and whether the incidents exposed regulatory lapses.
A former Nigerian Airways pilot, Capt. Muhammed Gbadamasi, blamed the persistence of illegal private jet charter operations on weak enforcement, political considerations and the influence of wealthy and politically connected aircraft owners.
He alleged that some operators deliberately obtain cheaper non-commercial permits but use their aircraft for commercial purposes, thereby avoiding some of the taxes, fees and stricter requirements applicable to licensed charter businesses.
Gbadamasi also alleged that some operators evade the mandatory five per cent ticket sales tax and present questionable insurance documents to regulators.
He identified the alleged misuse of Temporary Import Permits (TIPs) as another source of potential revenue loss, claiming that some aircraft brought into Nigeria under temporary arrangements remain in the country beyond the authorised period without payment of applicable permanent import duties.
According to him, offshore company structures and foreign aircraft registrations can also make it difficult for authorities to identify beneficial owners and establish their tax obligations.
He called for stronger cooperation among the NCAA, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), arguing that inadequate information sharing can allow aircraft to overstay temporary import approvals without prompt assessment of outstanding liabilities.
Gbadamasi further alleged that legal challenges by influential aircraft owners sometimes delay enforcement and tax recovery efforts.
He, however, acknowledged that the government had taken steps to address some violations, including the grounding of aircraft over unpaid import duties and stricter document-revalidation exercises for operators.
He urged the NCAA to intensify collaboration with other government agencies to identify defaulting aircraft, enforce statutory obligations and ground those that fail to meet applicable tax and regulatory requirements.
With political consultations, rallies and other campaign activities expected to increase demand for private air travel ahead of the 2027 elections, aviation stakeholders say stronger enforcement and inter-agency coordination will be crucial to preventing further revenue losses, protecting passengers and ensuring fair competition in Nigeria’s aviation industry.
