Nigeria Puts Up Three Presidential Aircraft For Sale

According to TheCable, the federal government is selling three outdated presidential jets to decrease fleet maintenance costs.

This decision followed the House of Representatives Committee on National Security and Intelligence’s recommendation to purchase two new aeroplanes for the president and vice president.

Shehu Buba Umar, head of the Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence, agrees with this idea.

Selling the three aircraft will cut the current presidential air fleet in half, which consists of six planes and four helicopters.

The fleet, controlled by the Presidential Air Fleet (PAF) under the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), consists of a Boeing 737 Business Jet (BBJ), a Gulfstream G550, a Gulfstream GV, two Falcon 7x, and one Challenger CL605.

Insiders reported that at least half of the fleet is unserviceable or failing, necessitating the disposal of the most burdensome aircraft.

The jets for sale include the president’s designated Boeing 737 BBJ, one Gulfstream, and a Falcon 7x.

The government has hired JetHQ, a US-based airline marketing, as the selling broker. JetHQ has secured an exclusive marketing deal, which allows them to value and promote the aircraft.

The proceeds from the sale will be used to purchase a new jet for the fleet, with a search underway for a cost-effective choice.

“We noted the lawmakers’ report and recommendation. However, we cannot afford to buy two aircraft simultaneously, even with the sales. The approval now is to find one affordable jet, supplementing with the sale proceeds,” a senior fleet management official said.

It was also reported that JetHQ had submitted three offers from buyers to the NSA for evaluation. “We received two offers for the BBJ and one for the Falcon X. However, the NSA insists on pressing for a better deal rather than rushing into a bad one,” an anonymous PAF official said.

Zakari Mijinyawa, an NSA spokeswoman, confirmed the ongoing disposal process but did not provide any information.

The state of the presidential air fleet has recently been a source of worry, with safety concerns raised concerning the planes that transport Nigerian leaders.

The president’s BBJ has been in maintenance since March, necessitating the usage of other fleet aircraft.

In April, President Bola Tinubu had to fly commercial to the World Economic Forum in Riyadh after his plane to the Netherlands broke down.

Around the same time, Vice President Kashim Shettima was spotted arriving in Ogun State on a chartered plane.

Shettima’s trip to the United States was cut short in the middle of the air in early May due to an engine failure of the plane carrying him.

Tinubu had to fly in a private plane on his recent trip to South Africa, which some diplomatic experts say could harm Nigeria’s image on the global arena.

While some federal officials and Nigerians advocate purchasing new aircraft to address these challenges, others believe it would be callous given the country’s current economic difficulty.

However, lawmakers emphasise that the protection of all people, especially the president and other government officials, must be a primary priority for all Nigerians.

A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.

Nnamdi Okoli