30 Of 65 Verified Private Jets Liable To Pay Required Duties — Customs

THE Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) says 30 out of 65 private airplanes verified so far are liable to pay required duties to the Federal Government.

The Customs Public Relations Officer, Mr Joseph Attah, made this known while speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Sunday.

Attah explained that some of these airplanes came into the country by ‘Temporary Importation’ agreement, which he said allowed them to bring the jets without payment because it was secured by bond.

He said thereafter many of them failed to pay on the expiration of the agreement which necessitated the verification.

He stated with this exercise, more revenue would accrue to the Federal Government because those who failed to adhere to the agreement would be made to pay the duties.

The Customs’ spokesperson said the verification had also given an opportunity to the service to clearly differentiate those airplanes in the country that were on commercial operations from those owned and used for private purposes.

Attah restated that the verification was not meant to embarrass anybody but to ensure that the right or required duties were paid to the government by the owners of these private airplanes.

He further disclosed that with the impact of the first two weeks extension, the service had again given another two weeks which commenced from Monday, July 26 to Friday, August 6.

“Considering the rising number of compliance and the number of jets that are liable for payment of duties as well as indications by those people to do so, the Comptroller- General has again graciously given them another two weeks.

“And also, it will ensure every collectable revenue is collected into the coffers of the Federal Government.