The federal government will soon buy new aeroplanes for the use of President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima, if the recommendations of the Committee on National Security and Intelligence in the House of Representatives get the nod of the Presidency.
A report by the Premium Times revealed that the committee made the proposition in a report issued after its technical subcommittee conducted a hearing on the status and airworthiness of aircraft in the Presidential Air Fleet (PAF).
The report was signed by the committee’s chairperson, Ahmed Satomi (APC, Borno), and the clerk, Makwe Eric.
Some lawmakers say the document has since been forwarded to the presidency for action.
“The Committee is of the strong and informed opinion that considering the fragile structure of the Nigerian federation and recognising the dire consequences of any foreseen or unforeseen mishap that may arise as a result of technical/operational inadequacy of the Presidential Air Fleet, it is in the best interest of the country to procure two additional aircraft as recommended,” the report, exclusively seen by Premium Times, read in part.
Reports explained that indications of the plan to buy new aircraft for the president and vice president came to the fore as early as February this year.
One of the reports by this newspaper published on February 20, 2024, quoted some credible sources as saying that the federal government was tired of spending humongous amount of money in maintaining the aircraft in the fleet.
A senior official familiar with the maintenance of the presidential fleet said that between the routine maintenance and purchase of parts, the aircraft had been guzzling huge amounts of money.
The source said it was not a new trend as it had been going on for a while, making the erstwhile Presidential Air Fleet Commander, AVM A. A. Yaro to recommend that the aircraft should be demobilised.
But other sources told our reporter that those around President Tinubu were not unmindful of the backlash any move to buy new aircraft for the presidential fleet would cause, considering the economic downturn in the country, as millions of citizens battle every day to feed owing to impacts of some of the reforms of the current administration.
The Air Force 001, being used by President Tinubu, is a 737 Boeing Business Jet (BBJ) bought during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo at the cost of $43 million.
Boeing began the production of the BBJ in 1998, and it initially cost $36 million for the unfinished aircraft. It now sells for about $41 million for a used one and $71 million for a brand new aircraft.
About a month to the expiration of the tenure of former President Muhammadu Buhari, the aircraft was sent for a comprehensive maintenance ahead of the inauguration of the Tinubu government.
Sources privy to the operation of the presidential fleet confirmed to newsmen that the aircraft had amassed over $5 million in maintenance bills, constituting nearly half of the over $10 million liabilities inherited at the presidential fleet.