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Federal Government May Ground 60 Private Jets Today Over Unpaid Import Duty

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The Nigerian government is set to ground over 60 private jets owned by top individuals due to unpaid import duties totaling billions of naira.

Documents reveal the Nigerian Customs Service will commence enforcement on October 14, 2024.

This follows reports of widespread duty evasion and a prior verification exercise conducted between June and July.

Meanwhile, the documents sighted (by The Punch) on Sunday showed that private jets belonging to some top business moguls, including chairmen and top executives of some banks would be stopped from flying.

Already, top private jet owners, who will be affected by the decision, have been officially notified by the NCS.

According to the documents, the majority of the affected planes are foreign-registered private jets owned by Nigerians.

Some of the luxury aircraft on the list are: Bombardier Challenger 604 CL-600-2B16, Bombardier Challenger 3500, Bombardier BD-700 Global 6000, Bombardier BD-700 Global 6500, Bombardier BD-700 Global 7500.

Each of the Bombardier BD-700 Global 7500 are estimated to cost over $70m, while the Global 6500 and 6000 version cost over $50m.

While 11 private jet owners have received notification of the grounding of their aircraft, report has it that no fewer than 55 other operators would get their letters on Monday (today).

This came as it was gathered that some top private jet operators had lobbied the Presidency ahead of the Monday grounding exercise but our correspondent learnt that the Presidency refused to interfere in the process.

The development, it was learnt, had made some operators to begin the process of settling the import duty.

Officials said some private jet owners had promised to settle the duty this week.

Already, operators of a United States-registered Gulfstream G650ER jet belonging to a leading Nigerian bank have reportedly paid N5.3bn import duty to avoid the clampdown exercise.

The Customs had recovered some duties into the government coffers when a similar exercise was carried out in 2019.

But in the letters sighted on Sunday, planes belonging to prominent individuals and corporate entities were restricted from flying until the outstanding duties were settled.

This enforcement action is expected to generate significant revenue for the government.

However, three of these aircraft slated for grounding effective today, had been reportedly flown out of the country.

However, the jets will be grounded as soon as they return to the country.

According to officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they lacked the authority to speak on the matter, the Nigerian Customs Act of 2023 empowers the customs service to penalise the owner or importer of any goods illegally imported into the country.

The official added that the NCS had issued demand notes to all affected owners and importers, instructing them to pay outstanding duties on their private aircraft.

While some aircraft owners have entered negotiations with the NCS to settle the outstanding payments, others have submitted written undertakings to clear the dues upon their return to Nigeria.

It is estimated that the NCS could generate over N260bn from this enforcement exercise.

BIG STORY

Non-Oil Sector Accounted For N15.69 trn Of N20.59 trn Revenue Generated In Eight Months — Presidency

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The Presidency has announced that non-oil sectors contributed ₦15.69 trillion, accounting for three out of every four naira collected by the government between January and August 2025, signaling a major shift away from oil dependence.

According to a statement from Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, total government revenue during the eight-month period amounted to ₦20.59 trillion—a 40.5% increase from the ₦14.6 trillion collected in the same period in 2024 .

The sharp rise in non-oil earnings reflects a combination of fiscal reforms, enhanced compliance, and digitised tax administration, including customs automation and broader enforcement measures .

Customs collections alone tallied ₦3.68 trillion in the first half of 2025, exceeding the target by ₦390 billion and accounting for 56% of the full-year goal .

This fiscal strength has translated into historic FAAC disbursements: for the first time, monthly allocations to states and local governments surpassed ₦2 trillion in July—funds critical for supporting food security, infrastructure, and social services .

Significantly, the Presidency also confirmed that the federal government has not borrowed from domestic banks in 2025, a notable departure from prior reliance on local borrowing .

While the gains are substantial, officials acknowledge that revenue still falls short of the government’s spending goals for education, health, and infrastructure, and urged continued efforts to bridge the gap .

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BIG STORY

I Have To Create State Police, We’ll Defeat Insecurity — Tinubu

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President Bola Tinubu says the establishment of state police has become inevitable as part of efforts to tackle Nigeria’s worsening insecurity.

Speaking at the presidential villa on Tuesday while receiving a delegation of prominent Katsina citizens led by Governor Dikko Radda, Tinubu said his administration would adopt decentralised policing to strengthen security at the grassroots.

The president directed security agencies to review their operations in Katsina following renewed banditry in the state and announced the deployment of advanced military hardware, including drones and surveillance equipment.

“The security challenges that we are facing are surmountable. Yes, we have porous borders. We inherited weaknesses that could have been addressed earlier. It is a challenge that we must fix, and we are facing it,” Tinubu said.

“I have today directed all the security agencies to energise further and look at the strategies. We have approved the additional acquisition of drones. I am reviewing all the aspects of security; I have to create state police. We are looking at that holistically. We will defeat insecurity.”

Tinubu added that the federal government is considering upgrading the recently deployed forest guards in Katsina into a more structured force.

Buhari’s Legacy

The president also assured the delegation that his administration would preserve the legacy of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

“He didn’t hand over a defeated country, a battered political structure, but a legacy of success, and that is the most important thing,” he said.

“We just have to continue praying that Almighty Allah should grant him Aljannah Firdausi and give the rest of us the ability to stand very strong and push Nigeria forward.”

Katsina’s Demands

Governor Radda thanked Tinubu for his continued support to the state, noting that Katsina needs more security interventions, youth empowerment, and infrastructure.

Former Governor Aminu Masari commended Tinubu for honouring Buhari with a “true state funeral,” while Ibrahim Ida, the Wazirin Katsina, called for the upgrade of Umaru Musa Yar’Adua International Airport and greater security focus on southern Katsina.

The move towards state policing follows earlier steps by the federal government. On February 15, 2024, a committee was inaugurated to explore its creation. Vice-President Kashim Shettima later confirmed that all 36 states had supported the initiative, though 20 were yet to submit reports.

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BIG STORY

Lagos Police PRO Hundeyin Appointed New Force Spokesman

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The Nigeria Police Force has appointed Benjamin Hundeyin, spokesperson of the Lagos State Police Command, as the new Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO).

Hundeyin takes over from Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Muyiwa Adejobi, who has been redeployed to Delta State Police Command as deputy commissioner in charge of operations following his promotion.

Police authorities described the appointments as part of routine administrative adjustments aimed at career progression and manpower optimisation, stressing that the changes are neither punitive nor controversial.

Profile of the new FPRO

CSP Hundeyin holds a degree in English Language from Lagos State University and a master’s degree in Legal Criminology and Security Psychology from the University of Ibadan.

He has undergone specialised training in Civil-Military Coordination at the Nigerian Army Leadership Institute, Jaji, and is a member of several professional bodies, including the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), International Public Relations Association, and Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPMN).

Hundeyin also served with the United Nations–African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID), gaining experience in peacekeeping and crisis communication.

Appointed Lagos police spokesperson in March 2022, he has since been recognised for proactive engagement with the public and media.

New national assignment

As Force PRO, Hundeyin is expected to spearhead the police’s national communication strategy, improve crisis management, and strengthen transparency and public trust through strategic messaging.

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