It might seem that the furore over the blatant purchases of private jets by Nigerians has gotten to the ears of the authorities, as the Federal Government has suspended the importation of private jets, airplanes, helicopters and other light aircraft into the country.
Sources in the Ministry of Aviation said the suspension, which took effect a few months ago, would continue until the formulation of a new policy on importation of private jets and helicopters.
The sources revealed that the new policy, currently being drafted by the ministry, would take into cognizance several issues regarding the importation of private jets into the country.
Top government officials, however, said the Aviation ministry had yet to determine when work on the policy would be completed and, as such, there was no definite date for the removal of the suspension.
The Special Assistant (Media) to the Minister of Aviation, Mr. Joe Obi, confirmed the development.
Obi, however, stressed that the suspension did not affect the importation of commercial and passenger jets being used by domestic airlines.
He said, "The domestic airlines are free to bring in their normal passenger planes. But the suspension only affects private jets. The government is trying to work on a new policy for the private jet.
"You will agree with me that the current policy on private jets is old, and there is a need to renew it. Pending that renewal, all applications for importation for now will have to hold on."
Source: Naij.com
Before anyone begins to do a dance of celebration, we need to stress that this action is a SUSPENSION. Government cannot stop anyone from purchasing or owning an aircraft, nor should they. . . it's their right.
What this simply means is that our beloved government has suddenly discovered that the foreign airlines, in conjunction with aviation expert and agents have been ripping them off on taxes and other levies that should accrue to the government from these importations, and that the policy which guides the simple act of bringing a private aircraft into the country tilts overwhelmingly in favour of the buyers and importers.
Simply put: the government is working out the chunk of taxes and other such levies to be imposed on aircraft importation into the country.
Not to be mistaken: There are certainly levies in place, but the sudden rise in purchases of these aircrafts has gotten the government thinking that a commensurate rise in taxes is needed.
. . . After all, our luxury-loving, stupendously wealthy elites deserve the very best.
Not that that's gonna stop them (and we're sure it's not meant to), but it might wipe that smirk off the face of the manufacturers-importers.
Everyone whose application is waiting in line for the importation of jets into the country should just take a chill pill. . .
. . . Adding more zeros on the tax sheet is a very arduous task indeed.
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