The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, raised concerns about the misuse of some private aircraft in Nigeria, highlighting their involvement in money laundering, drug trafficking, and other illegal activities, as reported by Vanguard.
During a statement at the Ministry of Aviation in Abuja on Thursday, Keyamo announced the establishment of a Ministerial Taskforce Committee to tackle illegal charter operations within the aviation sector.
Keyamo emphasized that these unlawful activities have not only resulted in significant financial losses for the industry but also pose serious security threats. He pointed out that certain individuals had acquired permits for non-commercial aircraft but subsequently violated the terms of their licenses.
In his address to the committee members, Keyamo instructed them to compile a detailed list of all non-commercial flight operators, verify the legitimacy of their licenses, and recommend suitable penalties for any airlines found engaging in illegal activities. The eight-member taskforce, led by Ado Sanusi, CEO of Aero Contractors, has been given a three-month deadline to report their findings to the minister.