The Nigerian government has spent a staggering ₦19.43 billion on maintaining and operating the Presidential Air Fleet between July 2023 and September 2024. Data from GovSpend, a civic tech platform tracking government expenses, reveals that ₦13.55 billion of this amount was spent in 2024 alone, making up about 66% of the fleet’s budget allocation for the period.
A significant portion of the spending was classified as “Forex Transit Funds,” which were used for covering foreign expenses such as fuel and maintenance costs when the fleet’s aircraft are stationed abroad. For instance, in July 2023, ₦1.52 billion was allocated for the fleet’s foreign currency needs, with further disbursements continuing throughout the year, including a substantial ₦5.6 billion spent in August 2024.
During President Bola Tinubu’s overseas tours, including visits to the Netherlands and Saudi Arabia in April 2024, additional funds were required for the fleet. For example, ₦5.08 billion was spent during the trip. Although Tinubu initially traveled in a government-owned Gulfstream Aerospace G550 jet, it developed technical issues, forcing the chartering of a private aircraft instead.
To address the challenges of maintaining aging aircraft, a new Airbus A330, valued at $100 million, was added to the fleet in August 2024. This new acquisition aims to reduce long-term maintenance and fuel costs. Tinubu’s Special Adviser, Bayo Onanuga, defended the purchase, emphasizing that the aircraft belongs to the people of Nigeria, and was necessary for the president’s safety, particularly after several incidents involving the aging Boeing 737.
Currently, the Presidential Air Fleet includes about 11 aircraft, making it one of Africa’s largest fleets. However, some planes, including a 19-year-old B737-700, are frequently out of service due to costly maintenance, underscoring the need for modern replacements.
National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu also supported the acquisition, highlighting that the high maintenance costs of the older planes made the new Airbus essential for the safety and effective functioning of the fleet.
News Editor