From July 2023 to September 2024, the Nigerian government reportedly allocated about ₦19.43 billion to maintain and operate the Presidential Air Fleet, a group of aircraft reserved for official travel and national duties.
This substantial spending has raised public interest, with a major portion going toward operations and upkeep abroad.
According to financial insights obtained from GovSpend, a civic technology platform that tracks public expenses, and shared by The PUNCH, the fleet’s expenditures hit ₦13.55 billion in 2024 alone, accounting for roughly 66% of the fleet’s annual budget. Much of this funding, labeled “Forex Transit Funds,” covered foreign expenses—primarily fuel, landing fees, and maintenance for the fleet when stationed internationally.
An official explained the necessity of these foreign currency transactions, saying, “When fleet aircraft operate outside Nigeria, payments are often required in foreign currency like U.S. dollars. This ensures the fleet remains fully operational without interruptions.”
Records show that in July 2023 alone, ₦1.52 billion was allocated through two payments, with individual amounts of ₦846 million and ₦675 million, specifically for foreign currency needs. By August, the monthly disbursement rose to ₦3.1 billion, distributed across three payments. Additional funds were allocated each month to maintain consistent operations. In August 2024, the government released approximately ₦5.6 billion, divided over six transactions, to meet rising operational demands.
During President Bola Tinubu’s overseas engagements in April, including visits to the Netherlands and Saudi Arabia, ₦5.08 billion was transferred into the fleet’s transit account. While Tinubu initially traveled in a government-owned Gulfstream Aerospace G550, technical issues prevented its use for the entire trip, leading to the charter of a private jet for the leg to Saudi Arabia. The presidential Boeing 737 business jet was also undergoing maintenance, underscoring the fleet’s operational challenges.
In response to these issues, the government added a new Airbus A330, valued at $100 million, to the fleet in August 2024. This aircraft, purchased with funds from service-wide votes, is set to replace the older Boeing 737. Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, explained that the advanced avionics and customized interior of the Airbus A330 would improve fuel efficiency and reduce maintenance costs over time.
Onanuga also highlighted that the aircraft purchase was not for personal luxury but rather for national interests, emphasizing that the Airbus A330 is “not President Tinubu’s personal property but a national asset owned by the people of Nigeria.” He clarified that the new aircraft was previously used and not a brand-new acquisition, adding, “The Airbus is much newer and more reliable compared to the aging jet acquired during President Olusegun Obasanjo’s term two decades ago.
He pointed to past maintenance issues, particularly an incident when a jet encountered mechanical problems mid-flight during an official trip to Saudi Arabia, requiring Tinubu to charter another jet from the Netherlands. According to Onanuga, these incidents reflect the urgent need for a safer, more reliable fleet.
Adding to this sentiment, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu argued that the escalating maintenance costs of the older Boeing 737 underscored the decision to update the fleet, as investing in a newer model would ultimately save resources and ensure the safety of Nigeria’s leaders.
Currently, Nigeria’s Presidential Air Fleet, one of Africa’s largest, includes 11 aircraft, ranging from fixed-wing planes like the Gulfstream G500, two Falcon 7Xs, a Hawker 4000, and a Challenger 605, to various rotor-wing models maintained by the Nigerian Air Force. However, reports indicate that three of the fleet’s seven fixed-wing planes are currently out of service.
