The Federal Government may suspend the importation of private airplanes, helicopters and other lighter aircraft into the country. The Special Assistant (Media) to the Minister of Aviation, Mr. Joe Obi, has confirmed this development.
The suspension, which is yet to officially take effect was scheduled a few months ago, and will continue until the formulation of a new policy on importation of private jets and helicopters.
A new policy, currently being drafted by the ministry, would take into cognizance several issues regarding the importation of private jets into the country. The Aviation ministry is yet to determine when work on the policy would be completed and, as such, there was no definite date for the removal of the suspension.
Obi, however, stressed that the suspension did not affect the importation of commercial and passenger jets being used by domestic airlines.
He said, “The domestic airlines are free to bring in their normal passenger planes. But the suspension only affects private jets. The government is trying to work on a new policy for the private jet.
“You will agree with me that the current policy on private jets is old, and there is a need to renew it. Pending that renewal, all applications for importation for now will have to hold on.”
Obi also said, “There is no definite time for now. It depends on when the new policy is completed. Government is working on the policy. When it is completed, every body will be informed.”
Several applications for the importation of private jets, helicopters and other lighter aircraft had been piling up at the Aviation ministry for over four months now.
The Nigerian private jet market has been one of the fastest growing in the world lately. The sector has been witnessing tremendous growth since 2007.
However, recent developments such as the crash involving the Governor of Taraba State, Mr. Danbaba Suntai, led the Aviation Minister, to begin plans to properly regulate private jet and helicopter operations.
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