No duty waiver for private jet owners -FG

By The Citizen

The Federal Government has finally commenced the implementation of duty waiver on imported aircraft and spare parts as part of measures to boost air safety and enhance the growth of the ailing aviation sector but private jet owners are not included in the list of beneficiaries of the duty waiver on imported aircraft and spares.

However, it was learnt that only private jet owners, who had operating licences for commercial charter flights from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, would benefit from the duty waiver on imported spare parts and aircraft.

The Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, had last year said the Federal Government had removed import duty on all commercial aircraft and aircraft spare parts imported for use in the country as an incentive to develop the aviation sector.

She had said at a press briefing in Abuja on the 2013 budget proposal submitted to the National Assembly that Value Added Tax would be also be removed onĀ  aircraft parts imported into the country.

President Goodluck Jonathan had during his budget speech said the removal of duty on imported aircraft and spares 'will appreciably improve safety in our skies as newer fleet and less onerous maintenance will prevail.'

Also in January, aviation experts and airlines operators complained bitterly that Customs officers were not granting them duty waiver on imported aircraft and spare parts.