Ministerial Task Force to Launch Probe into Alleged Illegal Private Charter Operations
The ministerial task force established to investigate alleged illegal private commercial activities within Nigeria’s aviation sector is set to commence its probe on Thursday. The Vice Chairman of the task force, Roland Iyayi, announced that the investigation will begin with a series of interviews.
“We are inviting the identified parties for interviews starting next Thursday,” Iyayi stated. “The process will continue throughout the week as we assess their operations. We need to engage with the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and local operators to determine what actions have or have not been taken. At this stage, we are focused on interviewing those involved.”
While formal invitations have yet to be sent, Iyayi confirmed that specific entities suspected of engaging in illegal activities have already been identified. “We have pinpointed some of the illegal operators,” he revealed. “They will be invited, and we will pose specific questions to ascertain the extent of their involvement.”
The initiative follows the June inauguration of the ministerial task force by Festus Keyamo, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development. The task force was charged with addressing the growing concerns over illegal private charter operations, a practice linked to money laundering, drug smuggling, and other illicit activities. These concerns have been highlighted by legitimate commercial air charter operators and supported by security reports from national agencies.
The task force has been given a three-month deadline to complete its report and present its findings to the ministry. According to Minister Keyamo, the committee’s work will be crucial in understanding why illegal charter operations by private non-commercial flight holders persist in the country, despite existing regulatory controls.
