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The Federal Government is contemplating the closure of the General Aviation Terminal (GAT) at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, due to reports indicating that the airport's VIP section has become a center for money laundering, as well as drug and human trafficking, among other illegal activities.
Rocketparrot News report that the GAT caters to private jet owners and various aircraft charter services.
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, while receiving a report from a seven-member ministerial task force addressing illegal private charters and associated issues, stated that the prevalence of illegal charter operations by private jets and aircraft ownerswho acquire licenses under the Permit for Non-Commercial Flight (PNCF) but use their aircraft for illicit activities has become a widespread concern in aviation.
He remarked: “When I took office, I was advised to let this issue slide, primarily due to the difficulties in regulating PNCF license holders since they are often considered untouchable in society.
However, my background both in civil society and as a former prosecutor with the EFCC prepares me to confront these untouchables. That is my responsibility.”
The minister highlighted the issue as a matter of national security, asserting that the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA)'s failure to regulate PNCF holders has resulted in illegal charter services that facilitate money laundering, drug trafficking, and unlawful entries and exits from the country.
Keyamo praised the task force's efforts in producing the report and formulating recommendations to address the problem, affirming that the ministry would thoroughly review the report and its suggestions, ensuring they would not be ignored. He stated: “If necessary, we will close the GAT to restore order to aircraft charter services in the country.”
Chairman of the Ministerial Task Force, Captain Ado Sanusi, while delivering the report, identified significant challenges concerning illegal charter operations, including regulatory inadequacies, gaps in the PNCF permit system, insufficient oversight, security threats, and a substantial revenue loss for the Federal Government, exceeding N120 billion over the past decade.
Captain Sanusi indicated that their findings revealed that the illegal activities present risks to aviation safety and create an unfair competitive environment for legitimate operators.
He referenced the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), noting that 90 percent of criminal activities at the GAT involve money laundering, transferring fugitives, and drug trafficking.
The task force recommended that the GAT should be promptly closed, restructured, and then reopened, as suggested by the ICAO security assessment. Implementing these measures, he asserted, would not only help curtail illegal activities but also contribute to a more organized and productive revenue-generating aviation sector.
In response, the minister stated he would present the report to the Presidency to explore methods for implementing the recommendations. He also instructed the NCAA to publicly disclose the list of legal PNCF holders in newspapers and at airports to reduce the presence of illegal operators.
He mentioned that the government is probing a commercial foreign airline accused by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) of supporting drug traffickers in the country, highlighting that if commercial airlines could engage in such criminal conduct, private jet owners are even more susceptible to involvement.
