The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has suspended the permit of three private jet owners for engaging in illegal operations.

According to the NCAA, the sanctioned jet operators have violated the terms of their permits for using their jets for commercial purposes.

NCAA’s acting Director-General, Chris Najomo announced the suspension of the three private operators via X on Tuesday.

The country’s aviation authority had initially deepened surveillance on holders of permit for non-commercial flights (PNCF) over several reports of using their aircraft for hire and reward thereby violating their permit.

In a statement on Tuesday, Najomo said, “As a consequence of this heightened surveillance, no fewer than three private operators have been found to be involved in violation of the annexure provision of their PNCF and Part 9114 of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations 2023.

“This riot act is also directed at existing Air Operator Certificate (AOC) holders, who utilize aircraft listed on their PNCF for commercial charter operations.

“It must be emphasized that only aircraft listed in the Operation Specifications of the AOC are authorized to be used in the provision of such charter services. Any of those AOC holders who wish to use the aircraft for charter operations must apply to the NCAA to delist the affected aircraft from the PNCF and include it into the AOC operations specification.

“NCAA wishes to reiterate to the travelling public not to patronize any airline charter operator who does not hold a valid Air Operators Certificate issued by the NCAA, when they wish to procure charter operations services.

“Finally, NCAA encourages the legitimate players in the aviation industry to report the activity of such unscrupulous elements to the authority promptly for necessary action.”