Nigerian billionaires planning to buy
private jets have been stopped from doing so as the Federal Government
has suspended the importation of private airplanes, helicopters and
other lighter aircraft into the country.
Sources in the Ministry of Aviation said
the suspension, which took effect a few months ago, would continue
until the formulation of a new policy on importation of private jets and
helicopters.
The sources revealed that the new
policy, currently being drafted by the ministry, would take into
cognisance several issues regarding the importation of private jets into
the country.
Top government officials, however, said
the Aviation ministry had 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.
The Special Assistant (Media) to the Minister of Aviation, Mr. Joe Obi, confirmed the development.
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.”
Asked if there was a timeframe for the
lifting of the suspension, Obi 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.”
It is unclear the new areas in the private jet business that the proposed policy will tackle as Obi declined further comments.
However, it was learnt that 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.
Investigation by our correspondent
revealed that the development was already affecting not only some
wealthy Nigerians, who had ordered for private jets, but also their
appointed agents helping them to handle the purchase from foreign
manufacturers.
“We have submitted applications to bring
in some jets on behalf of some people for over four months now, but no
approval yet. It is strange. Some of the aircraft are awaiting approval
so that we can bring them in from the United States, France and South
Africa,” an aviation expert and agent, who usually assists some wealthy
Nigerians to acquire private jets, told our correspondent under
condition of anonymity.
Some players in the private jet
sub-sector said some of the prospective buyers of the private jets might
lose the non-refundable deposits they had paid to the manufacturers.
Speaking to our correspondent also under
condition of anonymity, a major private jet owner said, “Normally,
before you apply for importation of an aircraft, you will have made your
choice of what you want from the manufacturer. And to keep the order
for yourself, you have to pay a non-refundable deposit.
“At times, the non-refundable deposit
may be for 60 days, after which you are expected to pay the balance; if
you delay too much, the aircraft may be sold to someone else and you end
up losing that non-refundable deposit. With this suspension, some of
these people that have ordered for private jets may lose the deposits.”
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, it was learnt that the recent
crash involving the Governor of Taraba State, Mr. Danbaba Suntai, had
forced the Minister of Aviation, Ms. Stella Oduah, to begin plans to
tighten the noose on private jet and helicopter operators.
by Oyetunji Abioye
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