President Tinubu’s Administration to Sell Three Jets from Presidential Fleet in Cost-Saving Move

President Bola Tinubu’s administration is set to sell off three jets from the Presidential Air Fleet (PAF) as part of cost-saving measures. The move aims to reduce the bloated cost of running the government, with a budget of not less than N80 billion allocated for PAF maintenance from 2016 to 2023.

The fleet currently consists of 10 aircraft – six jets and four helicopters – which will be reduced to seven if the plan is implemented. President Tinubu expressed discomfort with the rising maintenance costs and directed the reduction of the fleet.

The decision to sell off the aircraft was influenced by the high cost of maintenance, prompting the President to target the most burdensome planes. The government under President Muhammadu Buhari also attempted to sell off two planes in the past but failed to do so. An alternative plan to put some of the aircraft on charter for willing governors was initiated to generate income and reduce maintenance expenses.

The aircraft in the Presidential Fleet include 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 trips. Other jets are used by top government officials for official purposes.

It is unclear whether the President’s BBJ 737 will be sold and replaced. The BBJ was purchased for about $43 million during President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration. A Falcon and Embraer jets have also been slated for sale.

In a related development, President Tinubu has imposed a three-month travel ban on public-funded foreign trips by Federal Government officials, effective from April 1, as another cost-saving measure. The use of the Presidential Air Fleet is managed by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) for effective coordination.

SaharaReporters