Nigeria to receive Tucano fighter jets in Q2 2021 – Newstrends
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Nigeria to receive Tucano fighter jets in Q2 2021

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Nigeria will take delivery of the Tucano fighter jets it ordered in 2029 from the United States in the second quarter of 2021, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, has said.

Abubakar stated this on Friday when he appeared before the House of Representatives Committee on Air Force, to defend the 2021 budget proposal of the Air Force.

He said the Air Force would also acquire eight unmanned aerial vehicles from China and three JF17 thunder fighter aircraft from Pakistan next year.

Abubakar told the lawmakers that the Air Force had acquired 22 aircraft in recent times and was expecting 17 more, in addition to the three special mission aircraft it was expecting under the Deep Blue project of the Federal Ministry of Transportation.

He appealed for an increase in the amount proposed for the overhead cost, noting that the N8.8bn proposed for this in the 2021 fiscal year was grossly inadequate.

He said, “The overhead cost of the service has remained constant at N8.8bn despite the increase in the number of personnel and formations.

“We have acquired additional infrastructure but in spite of that, not much has changed in terms of the overhead. We have increased by about 11 units. These are located in Agatu in Benue State, Gembi in Taraba State, Damaturu in Yobe State, Ikirun in Osun State, we are expanding the unit in Ipetu Ijesa. We have also established an FOB in Birnin Gwari, Kaduna State.

”The running cost of these units is something that is weighing heavily on the Air Force. That is why we are appealing for increase in the overhead cost. In terms of personnel, the Air Force has grown to over 11,000 personnel and right now, we are recruiting an additional 1,000. So, it is huge in terms of the infrastructure.

“For the platforms we have created, we have acquired 22 aircraft and we are expecting 17 more. In addition, we are expecting to get three special mission aircraft under the deep blue project of the Federal Ministry of Transportation.

”I have intimated you of the eight UAVs we are expecting from China. With this number of platforms, the number of personnel have increased and the expansion of the units, definitely the current overhead will be inadequate. The 2021 budget proposal is tailored towards acquiring more platforms and maintaining existing platforms.

“NAF intends to intensify its procurement of spare parts, as well as arms and ammunition. Emphasis will also be placed on ongoing infrastructural development in newly established bases such as Gombe and existing NAF buildings to cater for the welfare of personnel and their families.”

Abubakar gave a breakdown of the proposed capital expenditure as “three JF17 thunder fighter aircraft that the Air Force is acquiring from Pakistan and we are proposing about N17.3bn for this, while the procurement of targeting bolts for the JF17 thunder aircraft will gulp N3.7bn.

“We have up to N2.5bn for barrack upgrade because the Super Tocano aircraft is coming to Kainji and the runway there is not in shape. We don’t want to go for contract because the cost of doing that runway will be too much.”

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Breaking: Tragedy averted as Air Peace flight skids off P’Harcourt runway

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Breaking: Tragedy averted as Air Peace flight skids off P’Harcourt runway

An Air Peace flight P47190 veered off the runway on Sunday morning while landing at the Obafemi Awolowo International Airport in Port Harcourt.

It could not be immediately ascertained what led to the incident but available information claimed there were no casualties.

The flight which originated at the domestic wing of the Murtala Mohammed Airport in Lagos ran into the incident on touchdown at the destination.

Air Peace management has confirmed in a release signed by its spokesman, Osifo-whiskey Efe, that its “Flight P47190, operating from Lagos to Port Harcourt this morning, (Sunday), had a runway excursion after landing safely at the Port Harcourt International Airport.

“The aircraft veered slightly off the runway without any damage. All passengers disembarked safely and calmly, and no injuries were reported,” it says.

The airline assured the flying public of its commitment to maintaining the highest standards of safety in all operations.

Breaking: Tragedy averted as Air Peace flight skids off P’Harcourt runway

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FG suspends operations of 60 jets over import duty

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FG suspends operations of 60 jets over import duty

In a bold move to recover unpaid import duties, the Federal Government has grounded around 60 private jets across major Nigerian airports, including those in Lagos and Abuja.

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) carried out the action, targeting aircraft reportedly owned by top bank executives, multinational oil firms, and wealthy individuals.

According to reports by The PUNCH, the NCS also sealed off several private jet hangars as part of a broader clampdown on tax evasion within the luxury aviation sector.

Among the affected aircraft are high-end models such as the Bombardier BD-700 Global 6000, Global 6500, and Global 7500 jets valued in the millions of dollars and commonly associated with elite corporate travel.

Sources within the NCS and the aviation industry confirmed the development, noting that efforts are underway to compel the aircraft owners to settle outstanding import duties.

In response, several of the affected individuals and companies have reportedly begun lobbying the Presidency in hopes of negotiating the release of their grounded jets.

There are reports that duties are not being paid on the majority of private jets currently in the country, with the Nigeria Customs Service seeking to recover unpaid import duties running into several billions of naira.

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The Customs had asked private jet owners to proceed on a verification exercise with the government. The exercise was to determine defaulters in the payment of import duty.

Recall that on October 14, 2024, The PUNCH reported that the Federal Government, through the Nigeria Customs Service, had planned to ground over 60 private jets owned by very important persons in the country over unpaid import duty beginning from that day.

This was not implemented as the NCS later that same day announced the extension of the verification exercise for private jet owners by one month, from October 14, 2024, to November 14, 2024.

At the expiration of the deadline on November 14, nothing was said about the development. The PUNCH questioned the agency’s silence on the matter, but the spokesperson of the service, Abdullahi Maiwada, hinted that varying court cases hindered the Customs from executing its vow at that time.

However, on Wednesday, it was gathered that the NCS had quietly commenced the grounding of both private and corporately-owned jets. The exercise started on Monday without any fresh notice, according to those affected.

The officials of the agency of the NCS sealed some aircraft at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. The drastic enforcement came barely seven months after The PUNCH reported Customs warnings against defaulters.

When contacted on Wednesday, the spokesperson for the service, Maiwada, confirmed the development, stressing that the service won’t rest until all that is due to the government is collected from the airlines.

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He said, “Yes, enforcement has started. The aircraft are grounded for the non-payment of customs duty, and as soon as they come over to regularise their payment and give what is due to Nigerians, they will get it back.

“We issued a statement when we started the verification, and we extended the period and even ‘over extended the period’, now that we are acting, everyone already knows our reason. We just have to enforce, we have to collect revenue for Nigerians so that it will be used for Nigerians.”

Maiwada recalled a long period of appeals extended to the defaulters to validate their jets or pay the duty, but noted that this fell on deaf ears.

“Now that we have grounded them, they will have to comply. We are hopeful and we know that they will comply,” he stated.

Meanwhile, impeccable sources in customs familiar with the development told our correspondent that some of the aircraft owners had started to make contacts even with the presidency for the release of their jets.

One of the top banks in Nigeria has already promised to pay next Tuesday, while another is negotiating with Customs in proxy. An energy company with three jets has also promised to pay in the coming week.

Release rumour

However, The PUNCH gathered that there were rumours that the Customs service was making moves to unseal the grounded aircraft while inviting the jet owners to a meeting in Abuja to discuss how the issue would be permanently resolved.

A document, dated June 4, 2025, said to have been signed by Deputy-Comptroller General, one C.K. Niagwan, on behalf of the Comptroller-General of Customs, noted that the “temporary unsealing” of the grounded aircraft received the approval of the Comptroller.

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According to the document, the temporary unsealing of the aircraft was to allow the operators the chance to present all relevant documents regarding the affected aircraft and engage the service to discuss and agree on appropriate modalities for the settlement of outstanding duties and taxes.

The circular expressed that the unsealing was solely to facilitate compliance, adding that this did not constitute a waiver of any statutory obligations. Meanwhile, our correspondent learnt the unsealing was only for a few of the grounded jets.

Experts react

A former deputy director of engineering of the defunct national carrier, Nigerian Airways, Frank Oruye, called on both operators of private jets and the Nigeria Customs Service to adopt global best practices in their activities.

He appealed to customers to pay what was due to the government, and also called on Customs to be professional in their dealings.

He said, “For a conducive aviation sector to be created, it’s essential for stakeholders to fully understand what it takes. Everything should not end in ‘gra-gra and rofo-rofo’. Investors and importers should be ready to foot all local taxes and customs duties.”

While recalling the disagreement that ensued between the defunct Nigeria Airways and Customs during the airline’s lifetime, Oruye stated that “NCS should endeavour to follow global best practices in fixing duties.”

He added, “I recall that we had difficulties with Customs when I was at Nigeria Airways in the 70s through the 90s. There’s a class of aircraft components known as Rotables. They are high-cost items ranging from electrical and hydraulic Pumps and motors to avionics components. In the course of their operating lives, they need to be removed from the aircraft for scheduled maintenance or repairs at approved foreign bases. Let’s imagine a generator whose price is $50,000.

“After operating in Nigeria for two years, it was sent abroad for repairs, which cost $1,500. Upon its return to Nigeria, NCS would be targeting duties based on $50,000, ignoring that it had been duty-paid at its first entry to Nigeria. Advanced nations don’t burden their airlines with such debilitating levies.”

Also, retired Group Captain John Ojikutu stated that most of the grounded aircraft were foreign-based, a development he described as a security threat to the country.

Ojikutu blamed both Customs and the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority for allowing an “unclear number of aircraft” to fly in the country.

While recalling how he grounded aircraft belonging to the late Kashimawo Abiola, for running afoul of regulatory laws, he appealed to the NCAA to live up to expectations.

“All these things happening now didn’t happen before. In the first place, why are foreign-registered aircraft flying in the country? Who permitted them? When I was at the airport, I seized Abiola’s aircraft twice! Why are people behaving this way nowadays? In Demuren’s days, such wouldn’t have happened. I had the authority to monitor foreign airlines. They can’t fly without security clearance, and aside from the customs airport, which is the point of entry, they can’t fly to more than one airport.

“All these things happening are risky, not even now that we don’t know the people in charge of the insurgency. To now fly foreign aircraft without clearance is a threat to national security. Both customs and the NCAA should be blamed for allowing them to fly such aircraft in the country. Let the NCAA check its regulations. There should be a regulation for such an act.”

FG suspends operations of 60 jets over import duty

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FG abandons national carrier, to demolish old Lagos airport terminal

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Festus Keyamo, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development

FG abandons national carrier, to demolish old Lagos airport terminal

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Festus Keyamo, has said the Federal Government has jettisoned the national carrier project, stressing that it is now focused on supporting the growth of local carriers.

Keyamo also expressed dismay over the condition of the old terminal of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, saying plans were in progress for government to demolish it and build a new one.

Keyamo spoke in Lagos at the launch of a book titled ‘100 Years of Civil Aviation in Nigeria: History, Issues and Prospects’, written by New Telegraph Newspapers’ Aviation Editor, Mr Wole Shadare.

Keyamo said the President Bola Tinubu administration was committed to draughting policies that would support the development of domestic carriers.

The Minister, who said recent policies put in place by government showed this commitment, referenced, among others, the revised insurance regulation on leased aircraft.

According to him, this would make aircraft more accessible and reduce airfares along domestic routes.

He said: “We have shifted focus to ensure growth and development for local operators through our policies.”

He added that air traffic operators have been trained and retrained, just as revenue leakages had been addressed to boost earnings.

The minister also disclosed that almost all foreign airlines had complied with his directive to patronise local caterers for in-flight catering.

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Also speaking at the event, Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, Mrs Olubunmi Kuku, said Nigeria currently has 39 certified airline operators, 31 airports nationwide and over 2,100 licensed pilots, which shows that the country’s aviation sector is growing.

FG abandons national carrier, to demolish old Lagos airport terminal

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