Strong indications emerged on Monday, October 5, 2026, that the Federal Government of Nigeria may have lost an estimated N21 billion in statutory revenue to illegal private charter operations between January 2025 and September 2026.
​The figures surfaced following a review of data originating from the Ministerial Task Force on Illegal Private Charter Operations established by the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development. The task force had earlier projected that Nigeria lost N120 billion over a 10-year period due to regulatory bypasses by holders of Private Non-Commercial Flights (PNCF) permits.
​Addressing aviation stakeholders and members of the press on October 5, 2026, at the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) regional office complex near Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, industry analysts and representatives outlined how private jet owners continue to operate illicit commercial flights.
​Private aircraft operating under PNCF permits are strictly restricted to non-commercial, personal, or corporate use. However, a significant portion of operators utilize these licenses to run commercial charter flights, undercutting commercial operators who pay standard passenger service charges, regulatory fees, and corporate taxes.
​Speaking at the briefing, Capt. Chris Najomo, Director-General of Civil Aviation at the NCAA, emphasized that enforcement measures are being tightened to curb revenue leakages and enforce strict compliance across all airports.
​”The authority will not tolerate unauthorized commercial operations under the guise of private flights,” Capt. Najomo stated. “We are working alongside security agencies, the Federal Colleges of Aviation, and the Nigeria Customs Service to monitor flight clearances and ensure that every operator fulfills their statutory obligations to the Federal Government.”
​Also speaking on behalf of the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Head of Press and Public Affairs Odutayo Oluseyi reiterated the Ministry’s commitment to ensuring all revenue leaks are plugged and non-compliant operators face regulatory sanctions, including license suspensions and groundings.
​The estimated N21 billion loss over the 21-month period reflects uncollected 5% Passenger Service Charges (PSC), 5% Cargo Service Charges, landing and parking fees, and corporate tax liabilities. Regulatory bodies have vowed to step up joint audits with the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to track flight logs against owner-tax filings.
