Presidential Jets: FG Spends N15bn On Repairs; To Buy New Ones With N1trn

A whopping N15 billion has been spent for the repair and maintenance of aircrafts in the Presidential Fleet, within 11 months, Punch has reported.

The newspaper’s report comes on the heels of controversies trailing the plan by the federal government to acquire new aircrafts for the president and his vice.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his vice, Kassim Shetima has recently complained of the hitches they experienced while trying to travel out of the country due to faulty presidential jets.

The magazine reports that Tinubu had to fly a chartered flight from Netherlands to Riyaldh, Saudi Arabia to attend the World Economic Summit, WES, after the aircraft he traveled with developed mechanical fault.

Similarly in April Shetima was forced to abandon his travel to the United State of America, USA, where he was supposed to represent Tinubu at a global event.

Recall also, that last week President Tinubu was reported to have traveled to South Africa, to attend the inauguration of President Cyril Ramophosa, in his private jet.

Amidst the controversy, the National Assembly has since made a recommendation for new aircrafts to be purchased for the Presidency.

Already, the federal government said on Saturday that the three aircrafts in the Fleet would be sold.

It was revealed that acquiring two new state-of-the-art aircrafts for the president and his vice would cost the country close to N1 trillion or over close to $630 million.

The report read in part, “The committee is of the strong and informed opinion that considering the fragile structure of the Nigerian federation and recognising the dire consequences of any foreseen or unforeseen mishap that may arise as a result of technical/operational inadequacy of the Presidential Air Fleet, it is in the best interest of the country to procure two additional aircraft as recommended.

“This will also prove to be most cost-efficient in the long run, aside from the added advantage of providing a suitable, comfortable and safe carrier befitting of the status and responsibilities of the offices of the President and Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

Recall that Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, has slammed the plan to acquire new aircrafts for the Presidential Fleet, describing it as insensitive to the plight of Nigerians due to the current economic crisis in the country.