Owners
and operators of foreign-registered private jets in the country are not
ready to de-register them to enable their planes become
Nigeria-registered in line with the new National Civil Aviation Policy
2013 unveiled by the Federal Government in May, investigations by our
correspondent have shown.
On May 3, 2013, the government unveiled
the policy, called NCAP, which among other things, states that no
foreign-registered private jets will be allowed to fly continuously in
the country for more than 15 days.
The policy says foreign-registered
private jets on special mission in Nigeria will be allowed to stay for
only 60 days, following a special approval from the office of the
minister.
Part VII of the NCAP 2013, which deals
with general aviation (private jets), reads in part, “Retention of
foreign registered aircraft in Nigeria will not be permitted beyond a
period of 15 days from date of entry. However, the Minister of Aviation
may, in certain circumstances, grant the extension of this period for up
to 60 days.”
However, investigations by our
correspondent showed that scores of foreign-registered private jets are
still flying across the country’s airspace and overseas, thereby defying
the policy, over four months after its introduction.
An official, who spoke on the condition
of anonymity because he was not allowed to speak on the matter, said
“All the foreign-registered private jets are still here in the country,
flying everywhere; flying the length and breadth of our airspace, and
overseas. The point is that these foreign-registered private jet owners
and operators are still contending the policy with the Federal
Government and the Ministry of Aviation. They said the policy has not
been taken to the National Assembly, and that it was introduced when the
NCAA did not have a substantive director-general.
“They also said some of the requirements
are not line in with global aviation regulations. So they are still
contending it. Until they resolve these issues with the government, I
don’t think anybody will comply.”
Over 70 per cent of private jets in the
country are carrying foreign registration, a former Managing Director of
Aerocontractors Airlines, Capt. Akin George, has said.
The development was expected to affect
some pastors, business moguls, governors and politicians, whose private
jets are carrying registration of countries like the United States,
United Kingdom and South Africa, among others.
But government officials have said the
NCAP was aimed at stopping foreign companies, which fly their private
jets into the country from doing chartered business after coming into
the country under guise of private visit.
Some state government have their private jets registered in foreign countries.
Meanwhile, the new policy, NCAP, also
bars individuals with private jets from carrying their friends and
business associates on board the aircraft, stating that only members of
their families are allowed aboard.
The Ministry of Aviation however said
this aspect was not meant to stop private jet owners from carrying their
friends and associates.
The policy also states that companies
with private jets are permitted to carry only their employees or members
of the Boards of Directors.
The NCAP also directs that the
identities of all passengers onboard any private jet must be made known
through a manifest before air traffic control clearance will be sought.
Industry experts, however, opposed this aspect, saying it was purely against global regulations and practice.
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