On Friday July 27, 2024 at a press conference held at the Radisson Hotel in GRA, Ikeja – Lagos, the Ministerial Task Force (MTF) inaugurated by the Honorable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo SAN, provided updates on their mission to investigate allegations of illegal private charter operations and related matters in Nigeria’s aviation industry.
Chaired by Capt. Ado Sanusi, MD of Aerocontractors, the five-man task force aims to protect the industry’s reputation and ensure public safety by uncovering and addressing illicit activities such as money laundering and smuggling which pose significant security risk to the industry. With a three month deadline to submit their report to the Minister, the MTF has designed a detailed work plan to achieve their objectives within the period.
The task force’s mandate includes taking an inventory of private operators; ensuring they do not conduct illegal charter operations; validating professional licenses, and recommending tactical steps to mitigate risks.
Members of the MTF went to work immediately after their inauguration, gathering data from both formal and informal sources to corroborate the information gathered, with plans of conducting a review in the coming weeks and an analysis of all the data collected.
According to Capt. Roland Iyayi, MD of TopBrass Aviation and Spokesperson for the MTF, “In order to help facilitate cooperation, the task force through the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, has obtained a formal introduction to all the relevant agencies. We as the task force have written to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority to access critical information, particularly that of PNCF holders with regards to their operations; to get insight on what they’re doing and how they’re doing it. Informally, we’ve spoken to people in the industry, but we have decided to have a more structured arrangement whereby we can call people in and assure their confidentiality so that they can feel safe to open up to us. So many people will be coming forward and so they need to know that whatever information is provided to this task force under confidentiality will be used with utmost discretion.”
“To further guarantee that confidentiality, all members of the MTF have signed a non-disclosure agreement binding them to the ethics of ensuring the highest level of professionalism and integrity”, he assured.
Regarding their findings thus far, Capt. Roland Iyayi noted, “Available records indicate that in 2005, there were forty-four (44) private business jets in the country. Two decades on (in 2024), that number has risen to 157. That’s an increase of 357% over two decades. The records of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority show that there are sixty-two PNCF license holders i.e. holders of the permit to operate non-commercial flights. We have thus uncovered the prevalence of illegal air charter operations in the country.”
Going forward, the MTF invites members of the general public with relevant information regarding illegal aircraft operations to share this information by sending an e-mail to MTF@aviation.gov.ng or by calling the number 09082222259.
