The Federal Government has finally commenced the implementation of duty waiver on imported aircraft and spare parts as part of measures to boost air safety and enhance the growth of the ailing aviation sector.
However, private jet owners are not included in the list of beneficiaries of the duty waiver on imported aircraft and spares.
The implementation of the waiver is coming almost four months after President Goodluck Jonathan announced the policy in October 2012.
It was learnt that only private jet owners, who had operating licences for commercial charter flights from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, would benefit from the duty waiver on imported spare parts and aircraft.
Confirming the commencement of the policy, the Customs Area Controller, Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, Mr. Eporwei Edike, told our correspondent in a telephone interview on Thursday that the command had received a letter from the Customs headquarters to commence the removal of duty on imported aircraft and spares.
In January, aviation experts and airlines operators complained bitterly that Customs officers were not granting them duty waiver on imported aircraft and spare parts.
Edike, however, said the agency had started implementing the policy.
The Director-General, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Dr. Harold Demuren, also confirmed to our correspondent that the requisite letter approving the duty waiver had been secured from the Ministry of Finance, adding that the development would boost safety.
“There is a letter from the Ministry of Finance over the duty waiver on aircraft and spare parts,” he said.
Demuren, however, said the policy was presently for commercial aircraft operators with valid Air Operators’ Certificate, adding that the government might extend the duty waiver on imported aircraft and spare parts to private jet owners later.
“There is a letter from the Ministry of Finance. The policy will bring succour to the aviation industry. It will improve safety. At the moment, it is for commercial operators, those who have valid air operators’ certificates,” he said.
The Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, had last year said the Federal Government had removed import duty on all commercial aircraft and aircraft spare parts imported for use in the country as an incentive to develop the aviation sector.
She had said at a press briefing in Abuja on the 2013 budget proposal submitted to the National Assembly that Value Added Tax would be also be removed on aircraft parts imported into the country.
President Goodluck Jonathan had during his budget speech said the removal of duty on imported aircraft and spares “will appreciably improve safety in our skies as newer fleet and less onerous maintenance will prevail.”