The Federal Government, under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, has allocated a staggering N14.77 billion for the repair and maintenance of Nigeria's presidential air fleet over an 11-month period, a State House report reveals.
The payments, made in 11 separate installments between July 2023 and May 2024, were processed through the 'Presidential Air Fleet Transit Funds' account at the State House headquarters, according to the Sunday PUNCH report.
This substantial expenditure coincides with ongoing discussions in the National Assembly regarding the acquisition of two new aircraft. The move comes amid concerns over the functionality and age of the President's 19-year-old Boeing 737 and other fleet aircraft, which have faced operational challenges.
A report from the House of Representatives Committee on National Security and Intelligence has highlighted the urgent need for additional aircraft, estimating the procurement cost at over $623.4 million or N918.7 billion. The committee emphasized the critical importance of maintaining a reliable and secure fleet for the duties and protection of the President and Vice President.
The condition of the presidential air fleet has sparked significant debate, despite substantial past expenditures by previous administrations. The current situation has even led President Tinubu to occasionally charter private jets, while Vice President Shettima had to cancel international trips due to technical issues with official aircraft.
The presidential air fleet currently consists of six main aircraft, including a Boeing 737, Gulfstream G550, Gulfstream GV, two Falcon 7Xs, and a Challenger CL605, as well as six helicopters. During former President Muhammadu Buhari's tenure, a staggering N62.47 billion was spent on the fleet's operation and maintenance. However, pledges to reduce the fleet size to cut governance costs were not fully realized, with allocations fluctuating over recent fiscal years.
The civic tech platform GovSpend has confirmed that President Tinubu's administration authorized the disbursement of N14.77 billion within a year of assuming office. This expenditure excludes costs related to the President's and Vice President's domestic and international travels.
The payments commenced with N1.52 billion approved in July 2023 for maintenance, followed by subsequent disbursements: N3.1 billion in August, N1.26 billion in November 2023, N2.54 billion in March 2024, N6.35 billion in April 2024, and N1.27 billion in May 2024.
The significant maintenance costs and ongoing challenges with the presidential air fleet have raised concerns among Nigerians about the efficient use of public resources and the need for a more sustainable approach to managing the country's top-level transportation assets.