The Nigeria Customs Service has grounded about 60 private jets across major airports in Nigeria over unpaid import duties running into several billions of naira. The jets, which include luxury aircraft such as Bombardier BD-700 Global 6000, BD-700 Global 6500, and BD-700 Global 7500, were grounded without prior notice, with some hangars at the Lagos and Abuja airports reportedly sealed up.

According to sources, the Customs Service had asked private jet owners to proceed on a verification exercise to determine defaulters in the payment of import duty. However, many owners failed to comply, leading to the grounding of their jets.

The spokesperson for the Nigeria Customs Service, Abdullahi Maiwada, confirmed the development, stating that the service would not rest until all that is due to the government is collected from the airlines. “Yes, enforcement has started. The aircraft are grounded for the non-payment of customs duty, and as soon as they come over to regularise their payment and give what is due to Nigerians, they will get it back,” Maiwada said.

Some of the affected aircraft owners, including bank chiefs and multinational oil companies, have begun to lobby the Presidency to secure the release of their jets. A top bank in Nigeria has promised to pay the duty next Tuesday, while another is negotiating with Customs in proxy. An energy company with three jets has also promised to pay in the coming week.

There were reports that the Customs Service was making moves to unseal the grounded aircraft while inviting the jet owners to a meeting in Abuja to discuss how the issue would be permanently resolved. A document dated June 4, 2025, and signed by Deputy-Comptroller General C.K. Niagwan, noted that the temporary unsealing of the grounded aircraft received the approval of the Comptroller-General of Customs.

Aviation experts have called on both operators of private jets and the Nigeria Customs Service to adopt global best practices in their activities. Frank Oruye, a former deputy director of engineering of the defunct Nigerian Airways, appealed to customers to pay what was due to the government and also called on Customs to be professional in their dealings.

Retired Group Captain John Ojikutu stated that most of the grounded aircraft were foreign-based, a development he described as a security threat to the country. Ojikutu blamed both Customs and the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority for allowing an “unclear number of aircraft” to fly in the country without proper clearance.