Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga stated that, contrary to popular belief, his principal, President Bola Tinubu, did not acquire a new official jet but a refurbished one.
“It’s not President Tinubu’s plane; it belongs to the people of Nigeria; it is our property,” Onanuga said during the Sunday edition of Inside Sources with Laolu Akande, a socio-economic programme aired on Channels Television.
He explained that certain jets in the presidential fleet, such as a 19-year-old Boeing B737-700 purchased under former President Olusegun Obasanjo, are in poor condition, with maintenance costs being extortionate. Therefore, rather than spending an exorbitant sum on aircraft maintenance, the President sought approval from the National Assembly for a refurbished jet that remains in good condition.
Onanuga added that the refurbished Airbus A330 would save Nigeria substantial maintenance costs compared to servicing the older aircraft.
Onanuga urged Nigerians to prioritise the President’s safety, emphasising that the newly acquired plane is the property of Nigeria, not Tinubu’s.
The presidential spokesman asserted that Tinubu would not take the newly acquired jet with him when he leaves office and that the jet would serve future Presidents as well.
Onanuga clarified, “The president did not purchase a new jet; what he has is a refurbished one – it has been previously used, but it is a much newer model than the one President Buhari used.”
“The one President Buhari used was purchased by President Obasanjo about 20 years ago.
“There was an occasion when the President travelled to Saudi Arabia, and the plane developed issues, requiring the President to charter a jet to continue to the Netherlands.”
‘Prioritise Tinubu’s Safety’ Onanuga mentioned speaking with National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu regarding the faulty plane, who confirmed that maintenance costs, due to the aircraft’s age, were exorbitant, thus necessitating a replacement.
“People should prioritise the safety of the president. I don’t believe anyone would wish for our president to experience a crash. We want his safety so he can hand over to the next leader,” Onanuga said.
While the Presidency has continued to defend Tinubu’s decision to purchase the refurbished Airbus A330, the move has been criticised by many Nigerians and some of his opponents in the 2023 election, who feel that the President is insensitive to the plight of impoverished Nigerians, who are struggling under unprecedented food inflation and energy prices that have quadrupled in the past year.
The condition of the Presidential Air Fleet has been a growing concern. In May, a faulty presidential jet prevented Vice President Kashim Shettima from attending the 2024 US-Africa Business Summit hosted by the Corporate Council on Africa.
Last December, a presidential aircraft, the Falcon 900B, was put up for sale, with the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) inviting interested parties to submit bids for the purchase.