Nigeria’s jet set forced to account

Press, 21 January 1984, Page 15

Nigeria’s jet set forced to account

From

CARERON DUODU

in Lagos

The new Nigerian Government of Major-General Mohammed Buhari has seized all private jets owned by individuals in the country. The owners are expected to be asked to explain how thq aircraft were acquired.

Nigeria has strict exchange control laws which forbid the transfer of money abroad without Government permission. Yet many of the more wealthy businessmen possess executive jets, and there is widespread suspicion that the jets were bought with money retained abroad illegally by the businessmen through deals.

The jets have become a symbol of the conspicuous consumption of the Nigerian affluent class. This is V

bitterly resented by ordinary people who have been asked to make sacrifices at a time of economic hardship, caused by falling oil production and low prices on the international oil market General Buhari is determined to

end corruption and restore economic health, and the move against the jet set is welcomed as a step in the anti-corruption drive. Asked to comment on the reported seizure of the jets, a Nigerian businessman, Chief

Arthur Nzeribe, said the Government would be “justified” in seizing them if the owners could not show why it was necessary for them to own private jets, and the source of the money used to buy them.

“I own three aircraft myself,” Chief Nzeribe said. “One is an Aztec which I bought in 1974; another is an HS 125 which I bought in 1978; and the third is a BAC 1-11 which I acquired in 1980. I did not use Nigerian foreign

exchange to buy any of these. They were bought from the proceeds of business I carried out outside Nigeria.” Chief Nzeribe said he could also demonstrate that he needed the jets for his business outside Nigeria. Asked where his planes were, Chief Nzeribe said the BAC 1-11 and the Aztec were in Britain. The HS 125, however, was in Nigeria. Meanwhile, General Buhari is to restore some measure of ethnic balance to his Government, which was originally dominated overwhelmingly by northerners. Although northerners still form a majority on the Supreme Military Council — the highest Govern-

mental body — an Ibo, Captain Ebitu Ukiwe, has just been added to the council.

Also, a Yoruba, Brigadier Tunde Indiagbon. has been given the important post of Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters. This is regarded as the Number Two job on the Council.

In one of the previous Nigerian military governments, a Yoruba, General Obasanjo, was Head of State, while the Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters, was. a northerner, Major-General Musa Yar-Adua. Thus, the north-south coalition of 1976-79 is retained, albeit in reverse order this time. — Copyright. London Observer Service. L I