The federal government of Nigeria has decided to sell three aging presidential jets in a strategic move aimed at reducing the excessive expenditure on fleet maintenance.
This decision, reported by TheCable, aligns with recommendations from the House of Representatives Committee on National Security and Intelligence, which suggested that the president and vice-president each require a dedicated aircraft.
Shehu Buba Umar, chairman of the Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence, echoed the lower chamber’s recommendations. The sale of these three jets will effectively halve the number of aircraft in the presidential air fleet, which currently comprises six airplanes and four helicopters.
The fleet is managed by the Presidential Air Fleet (PAF), a division under the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA). The existing fleet includes a Boeing 737 Boeing Business Jet (BBJ), a Gulfstream G550, a Gulfstream GV, two Falcon 7x jets, and a Challenger CL605.
Insiders reveal that at least half of the fleet consists of unserviceable or deteriorating aircraft, prompting the need to offload those that are becoming more of a burden. The aircraft up for sale include the president’s designated Boeing 737 Boeing Business Jet (BBJ), a Gulfstream, and a Falcon 7x.
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The federal government has enlisted JetHQ, a leading US-based airline marketing firm, to manage the sale. An exclusive marketing agreement has been signed, allowing the company to appraise and market the three aircraft. The revenue generated from the sale is expected to fund the procurement of a new jet for the fleet, with the search for a suitable replacement already underway.
A senior official, familiar with the fleet management, explained,
“We have seen the report and recommendation by the lawmakers. But the truth of the matter is that we cannot afford to buy two aircraft at once, even though we are selling off others. The approval now is to find one whose cost is not too high, and we can augment with what we raise from this sale.”
TheCable reports that JetHQ has already submitted three bids from prospective buyers to the Office of the National Security Adviser for evaluation.
A PAF official, who requested anonymity, stated,
“Yes, we have received two offers for the BBJ and one for the Falcon 7x. However, the NSA has insisted on negotiating for a better deal instead of rushing into an unfavorable agreement for the government.”
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Zakari Mijinyawa, a spokesman for the NSA, confirmed the ongoing sale process but did not provide further details. The move to streamline the presidential air fleet reflects a broader effort to cut costs and enhance efficiency within the government’s operational framework.
The condition of Nigeria’s presidential air fleet has recently sparked debate due to safety concerns about the aircraft used to transport the nation’s leaders. The president’s BBJ aircraft has been under maintenance since March, forcing reliance on other fleet aircraft.
In April, President Bola Tinubu had to use a commercial flight to attend the World Economic Forum in Riyadh after his plane developed a fault in the Netherlands.