According to recent reports, the Tinubu Administration is considering the sale of three jets from the Presidential Air Fleet (PAF) as part of cost-saving measures. The fleet currently consists of 10 aircraft, including six jets and four helicopters, which may be reduced to seven if the proposed action is implemented.
This decision comes after a previous attempt during President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to sell two planes from the fleet, a Dassault Falcon 7x executive jet and a Beechcraft Hawker 4000 business jet, did not materialize. Despite initially receiving a bid of $24 million for the two aircraft, the preferred bidders later reduced their offer to $11 million, which was rejected by the government at the time.
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Instead of selling aircraft, the previous administration explored the option of chartering some of the planes to willing governors to generate income and reduce government expenses on maintenance. However, it seems the current administration is revisiting the idea of selling aircraft to address the rising maintenance costs, which have been a significant concern.
Among the aircraft in the fleet are Boeing Business Jets (BBJ) 737, Gulfstream G550, Gulfstream G500, two Falcon 7X, HS 4000, two Agusta 139, and two Agusta 101. The BBJ 737 serves as the Nigerian Air Force One, exclusively used by the President for official travel, providing office and residential quarters on air. Other jets are utilized by various high-ranking government officials, including the Vice President, governors, Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives, ministers, Chief of Staff, advisers, and ambassadors.
While specific details about which jets will be sold have not been confirmed, it’s noted that the President’s BBJ 737, acquired for approximately $43 million during President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration, might be retained.
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The rising maintenance costs, which have seen a budget allocation of over N80 billion in recent years, have prompted President Tinubu’s directive to reduce the fleet size. The decision to sell aircraft aims to alleviate the financial burden associated with maintenance, which reportedly incurred over $5 million in fees over the past few months alone.
Furthermore, the use of the fleet by government officials is managed by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), with considerations given to the necessity of air travel for connecting various African countries efficiently.
In addition to the proposed sale of aircraft, President Tinubu recently imposed a three-month travel ban on public-funded foreign trips by Federal Government officials as part of broader cost-saving measures.
Source: The Nation
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