Customs to Verify Documents of Private Aircraft Owners

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has directed all private aircraft owners in the country to present relevant importation clearance documents to the agency for verification.

The service’s Deputy Comptroller, Joseph Attah, disclosed this yesterday at a press briefing in Abuja.

Attah said failure to comply with the verification mandate would be met with appropriate sanctions.

He said, “In line with the need to ensure strict compliance with all regulations, especially at this time of challenging security situation and reluctance of some highly placed individuals to pay taxes, Nigeria Customs Service will be taking stock of all privately owned aircraft in the country.

“Consequently, Nigeria Customs Service, in line with its statutory functions as provided for in Part III Sections 27, 35, 37, 45, 46, 47, 52, 56, 63 & 64; Part XI Sections 144, 145, 155, 160, 161 & 164 and Part XII Sections 167, 168, 169, 173 and 174 of the Customs and Excise Management Act, hereby invites all owners of private aircraft in the country to come forward with their relevant importation clearance documents for verification.”

Attah clarified that the purpose of the verification process is not to compel aircraft owners to commence paying customs duties but to ensure the payment of other mandatory charges such as the Comprehensive Import Supervision Scheme.

He added, “We want to ensure all charges due to the government are paid. The move is not punitive but to ensure compliance. If deficiencies are found, there will be room for correction.

“We need to know who owns what and we want to know how they came in to ensure that nothing untoward happened.”

He added that the verification process will commence on June 7 and end on July 6, 2021.

“All such owners or their representatives are to report to 305, Tariff and Trade Department, Nigeria Customs Service Headquarters, 3, Abidjan Street, Wuse Zone 3, Abuja-FCT from Monday, June 7 through Tuesday, July 6, 2021, between 10am and 5pm daily, with all the relevant aircraft documents for verification,” he said.

According to Attah, the documents necessary for the verification include Aircraft Certificate of Registration, NCAA’s Flight Operations Compliance Certificate, NCAA’s Maintenance Compliance Certificate, NCAA’s Permit for Non-Commercial Flights and Temporary Import Permit (where applicable).

It was also disclosed at the briefing that the NCS has generated N799,024,705,961 between January 1 and May 30, 2021; N226,110,610,991.00 higher than the revenue aggregated in the corresponding period of the previous year.

“Already the Service has generated N799,024,705,961.00 between January 1 and May 30, 2021.

“When compared with same period last year, there is a positive difference of N226,110,610,991.00.” Attah explained.