There are indications that the Federal Government will impose stringent measures on private jet owners and charter aircraft operators to avert disaster in the general aviation section, investigation by our correspondent has revealed.

This, it was learnt, was the outcome of an emergency meeting between the Minister of Aviation, Mrs. Stella Oduah, and heads of the aviation agencies, with some top players in the aviation sector in Abuja last Wednesday.

The minister reportedly said at the meeting, which ended around 3am, that there was need to look deeply into the operation of the general aviation sector, which involves private and chartered aircraft.

Part of the measures, it was learnt, would include imposing heavy sanctions on any non-compliance with standard safety procedure.

A source at the meeting said the new arrangement would also forbid pilots of private and chartered jets from flying above the normal flying hours to avoid any accident occasioned by fatigue.

“So, nothing will be taken for granted in the general aviation sector now,” the source said.

The recent Naval Augusta crash in Bayelsa State, it was learnt, brought the issue to the front burner.

The development also followed the increasing number of private jets and chartered aircraft, including helicopters in the nation’s airspace.

Although the crash in Bayelsa involved a military aircraft, which Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority and the Ministry of Aviation had no regulatory power over, the civil aviation authorities saw the crash as a wakeup call and the need to focus more attention on the operations and activities of lighter aircraft, sources close to the ministry said.

It was also gathered that the recent private aircraft crash involving the Governor of Taraba State, Mr. Danbaba Suntai, made development pertinent.

Consequently, it was learnt that government had decided that the ministry and the NCAA would henceforth pay more attention to the activities of airstrips, heliports, helipads, airports, private jets and chartered aircraft.

The ministry oversees airstrips while the NCAA oversees aircraft.

“Most of the people that own private jets in Nigeria are big people who ordinarily may not want to obey rules at times. But the minister said that the recent happening in the military circle was also a wakeup call for the civil aviation as well.

“It now means that the Ministry of Aviation and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority will be paying more attention to the operators of private and chartered jets/ helicopters in the country.”

The source added that the development could lead to a situation where some airstrips, helipads and helidecks would be re-examined or audited.

The general aviation sector in Nigeria has witnessed tremendous growth in recent years and stakeholders are happy that the sub-sector is attracting more foreign and local investors.

But an aviation industry analyst, Mr. Olumide and Ohunayo, said the latest development was not expected to retard this growth, rather it should strengthen it.

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Nonsense talk, the same FG that re-issued license to Dana air within few weeks of killing Nigerians. They are not even successful at controlling the flying trucks operated by Commercial airlines talk-less of private jets

DIS TALK NA BAD BELLE

Very typical. Always reacting after the fact. Anyways,better late than never

ok

the choice of jets by our politicians of recent as a means of mobility, is a designed strategy 2 stil our money to switz bank without been checked by airport protocols.

We don't have problems with making rules in Naija. The problem is usually with enforcement.

Na today? Abeg we don hear am b4. 4getting dat d private jets belong to dem dem. lols

i pray dis goes as plan cuz evry promise during dis tenure ending up in failed promise.

Would that stop plane crashes

Would that stop our polithiefcians from buying more jets

Wetin be dem wahala... They should be busy thinking how to revive the economy... Yeye people. I go fly jet if I get my money

ubong560: Na today? Abeg we don hear am b4. 4getting dat d private jets belong to dem dem. lols

my thoughts too. Laws in Nigeria are made for those who can't afford justice

Which air mishap don happen for private jet owners. Nija with their misplaced priorities.


Mtcheeew

A move that deserves commendation is being ridiculed by people I feel Should chant a course for a betteer tommorow. What's wrong in monitoring activities of private jet owners, or compelling them to observe Flight hours and other safety rules? All these are geared towards makingg d aviation sector safer. Or are nairalanders happy that we are recording crashes every now and then?

.

FG should attack the source of the material not the matter. Fight corruption and private jets will fade away. Also, tax private jets owners heavily.

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Welcome development. More regulation needed in d sector.

Cars has been crashing and the poor people has been dieing because of bad road what measure have they put in place to change that incedent? Just because poor men can not afford to travel by air they are taking mearsure? What have they done to improve the lives of the poor mass? Rub+sh

so...a private jet owner will not maintain his jet cause he wants an early death? Interesting.

Dont mind FG OO, these private jet owners and heliports pay so much money to FAAN, they have all the money for their certifications, pilots, engineers ... etc, they just brought up dis news to give Nigerians false belief. FG cannot do anything to private Jet owners ............. Its impossible

[quote author=Ada Nri1]my thoughts too. Laws in Nigeria are made for those who can't afford justice


That is it and small time they'll come to feed us with frivolous yarnings. Nonsense to them

So who is the minister of land he or she to need to conduct a serious meeting don't forget you need the road to take you to the airport you wouldn't fly your plain to your house or church would you ?

What ever goes up must come down

fg is a joker...me never buy private jet sef

Na today yansh dey for back, with centre divide?


Nothing will happen abeg

lets see if this hold

I didn't even see the sanction as strict from what she said. They are just necessary precautions.
Fining those who go against safety procedures and prohibiting flying after recommended hours are things that should be done in the first place. Nothing strict about them.

this pdp has no sense of direction. they prefer dana air to all these private jets because one brings in blood to their banks and one does not.