President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led federal government has put three ageing presidential jets on sale.
It is gathered that the sale will cut excessive spending on the maintenance of fleets of presidential jets.
The sale would cut the number of jets in the presidential air fleet by half as it currently consists of six airplanes and four helicopters.
The fleets include Boeing 737 Boeing Business Jet (BBJ), a Gulfstream G550, a Gulfstream GV, two Falcon 7x and one Challenger CL605.
As reported by TheCable, an insider said half of the fleet comprises unserviceable or failing aircraft.
He said this necessitated the need to dispose of those considered to be of greater burden to the fleet.
Boeing 737 Boeing Business Jet (BBJ), the president’s designated aircraft, one Gulfstream and a Falcon 7x have been pencilled down for sale.
A frontline US-based airline marketer, JetHQ, has reportedly been appointed as the broker for the sale of the three aircraft.
The company has been permitted to value the three aircraft and subsequently market them.
It was based on an exclusive marketing agreement that had been signed with the Nigerian government.
According to insiders, proceeds from the sale would go into procuring a new jet for the fleet, for which a search is ongoing.
A senior official said:
“We saw the report and recommendation by the lawmakers. But the truth of the matter is that we cannot afford to buy two aircraft at a go, even though we are selling off others. The approval now is to find one whose cost is not too much that we can augment with what we raise from this sale.”
An official of the Presidential Air Fleet (PAF), who spoke on condition of anonymity said:
“Yes, we have received two offers for the BBJ and one for the Falcon X. But the NSA insisted that we must press for a better deal instead of rushing to have a bad deal for the government.”
A spokesperson for the National Security Adviser (NSA) Zakari Mijinyawa, confirmed the ongoing disposal process.
President Tinubu was said to have ordered the sales due to the rising cost of maintenance, The Nation reports. It was gathered that the Nigerian government might have spent over $5 million as maintenance fees in the past few months.
President Tinubu was said to have ordered the sales due to the rising cost of maintenance, The Nation reports.
It was gathered that the Nigerian government might have spent over $5 million as maintenance fees in the past few months.
A top source, who spoke in confidence, said:
“The main reason is cutting down high maintenance costs.
“I think officers in PAF were particularly concerned about the frequency of maintenance and how much it costs the nation.
“The President decided to let off the aircraft that constitute the most burdensome.”
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