In a bid to address the escalating issue of illegal private chartered operations and related concerns, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, inaugurated a Ministerial Task Force Committee in Abuja on Thursday.
The Head of Press and Public Affairs in the Ministry, Odutayo Oluseyi, emphasized the necessity of this development, citing security and safety concerns as well as significant financial losses to the Federal Government due to illicit activities within the sector.
Mr. Keyamo outlined his comprehensive 5-point agenda, focusing on Safety, Infrastructure, Support for Local Operators, Human Capacity Deployment, and Revenue Generation. He stressed that this agenda would serve as a roadmap to fulfilling the mandate of the President.
Highlighting the unchecked and unregulated operations of private aircraft, Mr. Keyamo referenced security reports indicating a rise in money laundering, drug trafficking, and other illegal activities facilitated by private aircraft in Nigeria. This prompted the Minister to take decisive action after consultations with regulators and industry stakeholders.
The newly formed Task Force is charged with several critical responsibilities:
- Inventory Management: Taking stock of all Private Non-commercial Flight (PNCF) holders and Air Operator Certificate (AOC) holders.
- Investigating Illegal Charters: Determining the reasons behind the persistence of illegal charter practices despite existing regulatory controls.
- License Verification: Verifying the authenticity and validity of professional licenses of pilots and crew in the country.
- Regulatory Recommendations: Advising the Minister on additional measures regulatory agencies should adopt to combat illegal activities.
- Sanctions and Monitoring: Recommending appropriate sanctions for defaulters and suggesting further measures to monitor private aircraft operations in Nigeria.
Mr. Keyamo urged the Task Force members, carefully selected from within and outside the aviation industry, to work diligently to restore confidence in the aviation sector by eliminating illegal operations and ensuring that every flight adheres to the highest standards of safety and legality.
