By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) on Tuesday suspended the permit of three private jet operators for engaging in commercial flights.
This was announced by the Acting Director General of the NCAA, Chris Najomo, claiming the affected operators violated the critical rules of the country’s aviation sector.
The NCAA boss added that the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, gave marching orders for the cessation of the use of private jets for commercial purposes in 2023 but the operators continued in such act.
“Subsequently, in March 2024, the NCAA had issued a stern warning to holders of the permit for non commercial flights, PNCF, against engaging in the carriage of passenger cargo or mail for hire and reward,” Najomo stated in a video uploaded on the agency’s X handle.
Ag. DGCA reads riot act, orders re-evaluation of all PNCF permits within 72 hours. pic.twitter.com/DyHbxQXHJZ
He continued: “The Authority had also deployed its officials to monitor activities of private jets at terminals across the airports in Nigeria.
“As a consequence of this heightened surveillance, no fewer than three private operators have been found to be involved in violation of the annexure provision of their PNCF and Part 9114 of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations 2023.
“In line with our zero tolerance for violation of regulations, the Authority has suspended the PNCF of these operators