- FG unveils new presidential jet on August 19, 2024, sparking national outrage amidst economic hardship
- Omoyele Sowore says it is a waste of scarce resource in the midst of insecurity, hunger in the country
- Donald Duke says it is a clear show of failure Tinubu-led government
On August 19, 2024, the Nigerian government confirmed the purchase of new presidential jet.
The Presidency confirmed the acquisition of a new Airbus A330 to replace the 19-year-old Boeing B737-700 (BBJ). The previous jet, which had been used for presidential travel, was originally acquired during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
WITHIN NIGERIA gathered that the confirmation came from Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President Bola Tinubu, who made the announcement via a post on his official X (formerly Twitter) account.
In his post, Onanuga revealed that President Tinubu departed Abuja for Paris, France, on Monday aboard the newly acquired aircraft, which was purchased at a price significantly below its market value.
The new jet is anticipated to save Nigeria millions of dollars annually in both maintenance and fuel costs, providing a more sustainable and economical option for presidential travel.
“President Tinubu departed Abuja Monday for Paris, France using the new Airbus A330, which replaced the 19-year-old Boeing B737-700(BBJ) bought under the Presidency of President Olusegun Obasanjo.
“The new plane bought far below the market price, saves Nigeria huge maintenance and fuel costs, running into millions of dollars yearly,” the post read in part.
Onanuga’s post further elaborated that the decision to replace the aging B737-700 (BBJ) in the presidential fleet was largely influenced by concerns brought to light during an investigative hearing conducted by Nigeria’s parliament.
This hearing raised significant and serious questions regarding the safety record and overall cost efficiency of the older aircraft, concerns that were particularly amplified after the plane experienced a malfunction during a critical trip to Saudi Arabia.
In response to these pressing concerns, the Nigerian Senate’s security and intelligence committee strongly recommended the replacement of the outdated aircraft.
The goal was to minimize downtime and reduce the operational expenses that had become increasingly burdensome due to the aging plane’s frequent maintenance needs and potential safety risks.
The newly acquired plane is described as spacious, featuring state-of-the-art avionics, a customized interior, and an advanced communications system, making it a more modern, reliable, and efficient choice for presidential travel.
“The recommendation to replace the B737-700(BBJ) followed an investigative hearing by Nigeria’s parliament that questioned the plane’s safety record and cost efficiency, especially after it malfunctioned during a trip to Saudi Arabia.
“The Nigerian Senate’s security and intelligence committee recommended replacing the ageing aircraft in the presidential fleet to reduce downtime and operational expenses.
“The new plane is spacious and is furnished with the state-of-the-art avionics, customized interior and communications system,” the remainder of Onanuga’s post read.
However, since the confirmation by the Presidential aide, there has been mixed reactions on the need to acquire such expensive aircraft at a time Nigerians are passing through a lot of economic and security challenges.
For the past one year, Nigerians have been on the edge as far as security situation is concerned even as the economy has been on the doldrums.
Reactions trail the aircraft purchase
Former presidential candidate for the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore has berated President Bola Tinubu following the recent acquisition of a new presidential jet.
Reacting in a series of posts via his official X handle, Sowore criticized the incumbent administration for reckless spending amid the country’s ongoing hardship and bad economic status.
Sowore accused Tinubu of buying jets and a bulletproof vehicle within the first year of his presidency despite not taking significant steps to alleviate the plight of the citizens.
Sowore has articulated that the primary focus of Nigerian leaders appears to be satisfying their interests rather than the effective resolution of the issues confronting the citizens.
The politician and publisher said: “Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu said one year isn’t enough for Nigerians to enjoy a better country, but look at what he bought for himself in just one year: yacht, jet, bulletproof Escalade, mansion for VP. #RevolutionNow.”
In another post, Sowore wrote: “Bola Tinubu finally launched his $150 million presidential jumbo jet on his way to Paris. The only thing that makes these thieving rulers in Nigeria happy is when they fulfil their personal desires; they don’t care about the people.
“Day of fun at the expense of suffering Nigerians, @officialABAT jumbo luxury Presidential Jet arrives Nice, France.”
In the same vein, former Cross River State governor, Donald Duke, on Friday described the purchase of the new presidential jet as leadership failure in the midst of hunger and insecurity Nigerians are currently facing.
Nevertheless, Duke said the move should be considered as a “leadership failure” due to the current economic condition of Nigerians.
Featuring on Channels TV Inside Sources anchored by Laolu Akande, Duke said: “There is no glamour in saying your people are going through hard times; it is a failure of your leadership. If I am the head of a family, I want my family to have everything. I don’t want life to be difficult for them.
“If life is difficult, then I feel I have failed to provide for them or do the things I ought to have done. I would ask him (Tinubu) to see the Nigerian nation as his family. What is good for his family is good for the nation.
“Buying a new aircraft or yacht or living large is a failure. You can’t have kids who are hungry and you are living lavishly, going to parties and wearing the biggest agbada.”
Insight into the newly purchased airbus
According to some findings, the newly acquired presidential aircraft, Airbus A330-200, with registration number, 5N-FGA, is 15 years old.
Facts also emerged that Nigeria is the third owner of the same aircraft with test registration number, F-WWKR, and Manufacturer Serial Number (MSN), 1053.
Information gathered by WITHIN NIGERIA indicates that the federal government had taken delivery of the aircraft from Toulouse, France, its production site.
It was also gathered that the controversial aircraft was manufactured in November 2009 with the registration number, VP-CAC, for Midroc Aviation, based in Jeddah, King Abdulaziz International, Saudi Arabia.
The aircraft was with the configuration, VIP; engines, 2xRR and HEX CODE, 4241AC.
The Saudi Arabian aviation company operated the aircraft for 12 years before it was acquired by AMAC Aerospace in April 2021 with the same registration number, configuration and engines.
AMAC Aerospace is a Switzerland based company, which operated the aircraft for three years before it was acquired by the Nigerian government recently and upgraded to the current status.
The federal government, according to investigation, took delivery of the aircraft on Sunday, August 18, 2024 with the registration number, 5N-FGA and HEX CODE, 06430C, from a factory in France.
Though the government has kept mute about the cost of the aircraft, information gathered by our correspondent indicated that the government acquired the airplane at the cost of $100 million and retrofitted with state-of-the-art gadgets with another $50 million.
The price of a brand new A330- 200 aircraft is $238.5 million, while A330-300 is priced at $264.2 million and A330-200F costs $241.7 million to acquire.