Private jet owners get Aviation Ministry ultimatum

Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka

The Ministry of Aviation, on Sunday issued a 90-day ultimatum to owners of private jets in the country to regularize their documentation to specify their choice of operation.

Mr Mohammed Abass, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, gave the ultimatum in a statement issued in Lagos after a meeting which lasted for several hours in Abuja.

He said the ultimatum was issued at the conclusion of the meeting between officials of the ministry and other stakeholders in the aviation sector including owners and operators of private jets.

“As part of the unanimous decisions reached at the meeting, the blanket ban on operators of foreign registered privately operated aircrafts in the country has been lifted with conditions attached.

“As earlier indicated, a 90-day ultimatum is one of the conditions, during which it is expected that all operators would have regularised their documentation to specify their choice of operation,” he said.

Abass, however, warned that during the moratorium, owners of private jets would not be allowed to secretly use their aircrafts for commercial purposes.

“Participants at the meeting agreed that anybody who violate the ultimatum will be visited with more stiffer penalties than earlier earmarked,” Abass said.