Rita Odafe
Significant Spending on Presidential Aircraft
The administration under President Tinubu has expended around ₦19.43 billion on the upkeep and operation of the Presidential Air Fleet between July 2023 and September 2024.
Analysis from The PUNCH, referencing data from GovSpend—a platform that monitors government spending—indicates that the fleet’s expenditure hit ₦13.55 billion in 2024, accounting for about 66% of the budget assigned to it.
A considerable part of these costs has been designated as “Forex Transit Funds,” which are utilized for international expenses like fuel and maintenance when the aircraft are stationed overseas.
A government representative noted that using foreign currencies for payments is crucial to maintain operational continuity for the fleet outside Nigeria.
“When aircraft from the fleet are abroad, payments are frequently made in U.S. dollars or other foreign currencies to ensure operations continue without issues,” the representative stated.
Documentation reveals that in July 2023, ₦1.52 billion was distributed in two payments of ₦846 million and ₦675 million to meet the fleet’s foreign currency requirements.
In August, this amount surged to ₦3.1 billion through three separate payments. Disbursements persisted into subsequent months, with significant amounts such as ₦5.6 billion disbursed over six transactions in August 2024.
During President Bola Tinubu’s foreign trip in April, which involved stops in the Netherlands and Saudi Arabia, the fleet’s account received ₦5.08 billion.
Initially, Tinubu traveled on a government-owned Gulfstream Aerospace G550 jet, but a mechanical issue necessitated chartering a private plane for the journey to Saudi Arabia.
Additionally, the president’s Boeing 737 was undergoing maintenance during this period.
In August, a new Airbus A330 was purchased for $100 million to replace the older Boeing 737 by utilizing service-wide votes.
Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, noted that the Airbus A330 features advanced technology and a tailored interior, promising long-term savings on maintenance and fuel costs.
The Presidential Air Fleet comprises approximately 11 aircraft, marking one of the largest fleets in Africa. This includes older models like a 19-year-old B737-700 and a 13-year-old Gulfstream G550.
The B737, which was acquired during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, has become increasingly expensive to maintain over the years.
Onanuga defended the acquisition of the Airbus A330, clarifying that it serves national interests rather than personal luxury.
“This is not President Tinubu’s private jet; it belongs to the Nigerian populace—it is our collective property… The President did not buy a new aircraft; he acquired a refurbished one that had previous use. However, it is a far newer model than the one used by President Buhari,” he stated.
Onanuga emphasized, “The aircraft that President Buhari used was purchased by President Obasanjo two decades ago. There was an occasion when the plane faced issues during a visit to Saudi Arabia, forcing the President to charter a jet to return from the Netherlands.”
He urged Nigerians to prioritize the safety of the President and expressed that no one would want to see him face an accident during flight. “We want to ensure his safety so he can pass on responsibilities to his successor,” he articulated.
Concerns regarding the reliability of aging aircraft underlined the necessity for replacements, according to Onanuga.
Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser, also supported the decision, affirming that the high maintenance costs of the older Boeing 737 made acquiring a new aircraft essential.
In addition to its fixed-wing planes, the Presidential Air Fleet includes a Gulfstream G500, two Falcon 7Xs, a Hawker 4000, and a Challenger 605, along with rotor-wing aircraft managed by the Nigerian Air Force under the guidance of the National Security Adviser.
Currently, reports indicate that three out of the seven fixed-wing aircraft are not operational.
