Two years after the Federal Government constituted a Ministerial Taskforce to tackle illegal air charter operations in Nigeria, none of the panel’s recommendations has been implemented, despite concerns over revenue leakages, safety and national security, the Guardian can report.

The seven-member taskforce, inaugurated on June 27, 2024, by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo, was set up following widespread complaints from licensed charter operators and alarming security reports linking some private aircraft to illicit activities, including money laundering and drug trafficking.

The committee was chaired by the Managing Director of Aero Contractors, Capt. Ado Sanusi, while the Managing Director of TopBrass Aviation Services Ltd., Roland Iyayi, served as its Vice Chairman.

The committee was initially given three months period to complete its assignment. However, the deadline was extended due to the scope of its investigation.

The panel eventually submitted its final report to the minister on March 4, 2025.

At the presentation, Keyamo promised to study the recommendations with his team and develop a framework for their implementation.

However, more than 16 months after the report was submitted and two years after the committee was inaugurated, the Federal Government is yet to announce the implementation of any of its recommendations.

Speaking with The Guardian over the weekend, Iyayi expressed disappointment over official inaction.

Iyayi warned that the continued delay has allowed illegal charter operations to continue.

“Nothing has been done. Not one of the recommendations we submitted has been implemented. If even some of those recommendations had been acted upon, we would not be witnessing the magnitude of the problem we have today.

“How do we suddenly have about 240 private jets in Nigeria when barely a year ago they were around 150? The question is: how much revenue is the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) generating from their commercial operations?

“What you have today is a black market that is larger than the legitimate charter business. It is an uncomfortable truth, but that is the reality,” he said.

Iyayi canvassed greater accountability from the aviation regulator, urging the minister to demand data from the NCAA on revenues generated from private aircraft engaged in commercial operations.

The taskforce’s findings had earlier revealed widespread abuse of the Private Non-Commercial Flight (PNCF) category, with several privately-owned aircraft allegedly being used for commercial charter services in violation of aviation regulations.

According to the committee’s preliminary findings, many of the aircraft involved were foreign-registered, making regulatory oversight more difficult.

The report also alleged that some operators manipulated passenger manifests, while regulatory enforcement remained weak.

The panel warned that the illegal operations were not limited to small operators, but also involved high-net-worth individuals using private jets for commercial purposes without the required Air Operator Certificate (AOC).

It noted that the activities had deprived the Federal government of substantial revenues while creating significant security exposures within the aviation sector.

The committee also questioned the effectiveness of the NCAA‘s oversight of private aircraft operations, stating that conditions attached to PNCF permits were routinely violated with little or no enforcement.

The establishment of the taskforce followed repeated complaints by licensed charter operators, who accused illegal operators of undercutting legitimate businesses while avoiding regulatory charges and taxes.

It also came after the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, raised concerns over the use of private aircraft for money laundering, drug trafficking and other criminal activities.

At the inauguration of the committee in 2024, Keyamo had described the proliferation of illegal charter operations as a major threat to the aviation industry.

He said the activities had undermined the efforts of the NCAA and other aviation agencies, resulting in huge financial losses to the government while posing serious safety and security risks.

The minister also alleged that some holders of AOCs were aiding illegal operators by allowing them to operate under their certificates in exchange for financial benefits.