By Yusuf Olukokun

Festus Keyamo, the minister of aviation said private aircrafts operational activities have been become tools of money laundering, drug trafficking and some illegal activities in the country.

Keyamo made this known during the inauguration of eight-man taskforce committee in on illegal private chartered operations and related matters in Abuja, on Thursday, June 27, 2024 .

Odutayo Oluseyi, the spokesman for the ministry dutifully noted that, “Keyamo said the operations of private aircraft owners have remained largely unchecked and unregulated going by the security reports on the spike in money laundering, drug trafficking and other illegal activities through the use of private aircrafts in Nigeria.”

The statement signed by the spokesman read in part: “The task force members who have been carefully selected from within and outside the aviation industry and they are of high repute and integrity were charged with the following Terms of Reference: To take inventory of all Private Non-commercial Flight (PNCF) holders and Air Operator Certificate (AOC) holders; To determine why the practice of illegal charters by PNCF holders persists in the country despite regulatory controls; To call in all professional licenses of pilots and crew in the country and determine their authenticity and validity; To recommend to the Minister any additional measures to be taken by regulatory agencies to stem the ugly tide.”

Also, the responsibilities among some others are: “To recommend appropriate sanctions to be imposed by the regulatory agencies on defaulters; and to recommend additional measures to further monitor the operations and activities of private aircraft in Nigeria.”

The members of the task force include Captain Ado Sanusi, is the chairman; Capt. Roland Iyayi, vice chairman; Acting director of Air Transport, FMA&AD, secretary; Theresa Babayo (DAYR-NCAA), member; whe is a nominee of the national security adviser, will serve as a member; Captain Daniel Quansah, also a member; Captain Patrick Ogunlowo, a member and Bafemi Bajomo (SA-HMA) is a member too.