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JUST IN: NCAA Suspends Three Private Jet Operators For Operating Commercial Flights

Published

1 year ago

April 16, 2024

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority has suspended the permit of three private jet operators for engaging in commercial flights.

This was according to a Riot Act on the NCAA’s website on Tuesday, signed by the Acting Director General, Captain Chris Najomo.

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, had on Monday warned private jet operators unlicensed to operate commercial services that their activities were causing the Federal Government a huge loss of revenue.

The minister issued the warning in an interview on Channels TV programme, Newsnight, on Monday.

Keyamo said, “Almost all these private jets are operating commercially resulting in a huge loss of revenue for the Federal Government because the licence to fly a private aircraft privately and the one to fly it commercially is so much.

“When it is commercial, the money paid to the Federal Government is so much. So, people now take licences from us to say I have just bought a private jet and I want to be using it for my business or to fly my friends and family, and we give them at a very low fee.

“However, the moment they are given, they carry passengers all over Nigeria doing six or eight flights a day. This is a notice to them on camera, I am coming for them because the president has given us a marching order, and we are not going to allow it.

“First, in terms of passengers’ safety, the regulation is low. Second, it is economic sabotage and I won’t allow that to happen. People who are my friends or the president’s friends, we will come down on them and, perhaps, ground all their planes. We will come very hard on them. In a matter of days or weeks, we are going to come down on them because we have to raise revenue for the Federal Government, ensure that the laws are kept and ensure the safety of Nigerians.”

However, expediting action on the warning issued, the acting DG of NCAA in a Riot Act on Tuesday, suspended three jet operators found guilty of engaging in commercial flights.

The acting DG disclosed that despite several warnings, these jet operators continued to engage in commercial flight operations, hence their suspension.

The message read, “Back in 2023, the use of private jets for commercial purposes had gotten the attention of the Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, who issued marching orders for the cessation of such acts.

“Subsequently, in March 2024, the NCAA 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.

“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 91.14 of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations.”

Najomo noted that suspending the jet operators for flouting several warnings was in line with the Authority’s zero tolerance for violation of regulations.

He continued, “In line with our zero tolerance for violation of regulations, the Authority has suspended the PNCF of these operators. To further sanitise the general aviation sector, I have directed that a re-evaluation of all holders of PNCF be carried out on or before the 19th of April 2024 to ascertain compliance with regulatory requirements.”

The statement further directed that all holders of the Permit for Non-Commercial Flights should submit relevant documents to the Authority within 72 hours.

It added, “All PNCF holders will be required to submit relevant documents to the authority within the next 72 hours.

“This riot act is also directed at existing Air Operator Certificate (AOC) holders, who utilize aircraft listed on their PNCF for commercial charter operations.

“It must be emphasised that only aircraft listed in the operation specifications of the AOC are authorised to be used in the provision of such charter services. Any of those AOC holders who wish to use the aircraft for charter operations must apply to the NCAA to delist the affected aircraft from the PNCF and include it in the AOC operations specification.

“NCAA wishes to reiterate to the travelling public not to patronise any airline charter operator who does not hold a valid Air Operators Certificate issued by the NCAA when they wish to procure charter operations services.

“Finally, the NCAA encourages the legitimate players in the aviation industry to report the activity of such unscrupulous elements to the authority promptly for necessary action.”

News

“May May The South Of Former President Bola…,” Uzodinma Trends After Public Gaffe

Published

5 hours ago

July 22, 2025

Editor

The Governor of Imo state, Hope Uzodinma is currently trending on Social Media over a gaffe he made while eulogizing late Ex-President, Muhammadu Buhari.

It was learned that Uzodinma, while speaking at the Constitution Review Zonal Public Hearings in Owerri Center for Imo and Abia State on Saturday, made the error during a prayer for late Buhari.

The Governor said;” May the Soul of Former President Bola (pauses)…..Former President Muhammadu Buhari and the souls of all the departed through the mercy of God, Rest in Peace”

Watch the Video Below:

https://x.com/PoliticsNGR/status/1947042215970111565?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1947042215970111565%7Ctwgr%5E97d5beebb2dacda6422cd64f3c17c07d40488c07%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fnews.phxfeeds.com%2FwebFrame%3Ftype%3Dtwitterwidth%3D100height%3D0value%3Dhttps3A2F2Ftwitter.com2FPoliticsNGR2Fstatus2F19470422159701115653Fref_src3Dtwsrc255Etfw

News

Ex-Lagos Governor Fashola Gets International Appointment

Published

5 hours ago

July 22, 2025

Editor

Former Lagos State Governor and ex-Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, has been appointed to the Board of Directors of Resolve to Save Lives Nigeria (RTSL Nigeria), an international public health organization.

The appointment was announced on Friday by RTSL Nigeria, a health-focused body working to prevent cardiovascular diseases and epidemics.

The group, which opened an office in Abuja in 2022, partners with governments and communities to tackle some of the world’s deadliest health threats.

Reacting to the appointment, Dr. Tom Frieden, President and CEO of Resolve to Save Lives, said: “We are thrilled to welcome Mr. Fashola to the RTSL Nigeria Board of Directors. He has demonstrated a commitment to improving lives and livelihoods in Nigeria through more than two decades of public service.”

Fashola, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), previously served as Minister of Power, Works and Housing under President Muhammadu Buhari. He was also the Chief of Staff in Lagos State before becoming governor from 2007 to 2015.

During his tenure, Fashola was instrumental in managing Nigeria’s response to the 2014 Ebola outbreak, earning him international recognition, including the Stephen J. Solarz Award from the International Crisis Group.

In his acceptance remarks, Fashola said he was honoured to join the board and pledged to support the organization’s mission.

“I look forward to helping continue the progress in stopping preventable deaths from cardiovascular diseases and infectious disease outbreaks,” he said.

Ibrahim Abubakar, a fellow board member and Dean at the University College London Faculty of Population Health Sciences, described Fashola’s inclusion as a valuable asset, citing his governance experience and leadership during health crises.

News

ICRC Warns Of Rising Malnutrition As North-East Faces Food Shortages

Published

6 hours ago

July 21, 2025

Editor

As food insecurity deepens across North-East Nigeria, farmers in conflict-affected areas are battling hunger, displacement, and limited access to land—all while striving to feed their families and communities.

This is according to a press statement by the International Committee of the Red Cross, which was obtained on Monday.
The ICRC also said more than 3.7 million people in the region are currently facing food insecurity. Many of them are farmers who have lost access to their farmlands due to persistent violence and displacement.

Speaking, according to the statement, Modu Umar, a community leader in Dikwa, said, “Right now, we face severe food shortages. Some families are forced to walk long distances every day to collect firewood just to sell and buy food. Farming is the only solution to hunger.”

Also, a 70-year-old farmer, Churi Ibrahim from Gajibo, noted that insecurity has drastically limited movement in rural areas, with many farmers trekking for hours to access their fields under the threat of attack.

“Some people trek three hours to reach their farms. By the time you reach your farm, you’re already exhausted, and when you return home, it’s late. For a large family like mine, sometimes, we don’t even get one meal a day,” Gajibo said.

Despite the danger and fatigue, many continue farming out of sheer necessity. “Even when you’re afraid, you have to go. If you don’t farm during the rainy season, you’ll have nothing to eat,” said Bintu Konto, a mother of five.

As the lean season begins—a time when food stocks run low and prices rise—households are under growing pressure. “This is when households must start purchasing food, but many conflict-affected families can’t afford much. They’re forced to drastically limit their intake,” Head of the ICRC Office in Maiduguri, Diana Japaridze, said.

The statement also said, ”The food crisis is also fuelling rising levels of malnutrition, particularly among children under five and pregnant or breastfeeding women. In response, the ICRC is supporting malnutrition stabilisation centres and conducting community education to help families care for vulnerable children.

”To build resilience and support long-term recovery, the ICRC has launched an agricultural assistance programme targeting both rainy and dry seasons. This year alone, over 21,000 farming households have received seeds tailored to local conditions, along with planting tools designed to reduce labour and increase efficiency.

”The support includes staple crops like rice and maize as well as vegetables such as tomato and okra, helping to improve dietary diversity and nutrition. Farmers are also receiving training in sustainable agricultural practices to help them maintain production beyond the lifespan of ICRC’s support.

”At the national level, the ICRC has partnered with the National Agricultural Seed Council (NASC) to complete repairs on a vital water source. This facility now ensures uninterrupted water supply for NASC’s seed testing and greenhouse operations, a move aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s broader agricultural system.

“Still, the lean season remains a painful period for many farmers who simply cannot grow enough to meet their families’ needs.

“For many of us, it’s not just about farming—it’s about survival,” said Churi Ibrahim. “When you can’t feed your children, every day becomes a struggle.”