Nigeria

Buhari’s presidential planes might be impounded by foreign creditors due to massive debts

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According to Punch, the Presidential Air Fleet’s aircraft run the possibility of being seized by foreign creditors.

According to the findings, the PAF owed money to a number of service providers for different improvements made to the 10 aircraft in the fleet to ensure that they were airworthy.

The President, Vice President, members of their immediate families, and other key government officials are safely transported by plane by the PAF.

However, it was learned that several aircraft installations had once more been delayed to 2023 owing to a lack of funds.

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Air Vice Marshal Abubakar Abdullahi, the PAF commander, claimed that just N1.5 billion out of the budgeted N4.5 billion for defense spending had been set up for aircraft maintenance. He made these remarks during his defense budget presentation to the National Assembly.

According to a previous study, the PAF’s financial allocation increased by 121% over an eight-year period.

According to research, President Muhammadu Buhari (ret.) has been allocating N81.80 billion for PAF upkeep and international travel since 2016.

The sum consists of N62.47 billion for the PAF’s maintenance and operation, N17.29 billion for travel abroad and domestically, and N2.04 billion set aside for miscellaneous associated costs.

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Since the Buhari administration began in May 2015, the Presidency has kept 10 aircraft in service.

Air Vice Marshal Abubakar Abdullahi, the PAF commander, claimed that just N1.5 billion out of the budgeted N4.5 billion for defense spending had been set up for aircraft maintenance. He made these remarks during his defense budget presentation to the National Assembly.

According to a previous study, the PAF’s financial allocation increased by 121% over an eight-year period.

According to research, President Muhammadu Buhari (ret.) has been allocating N81.80 billion for PAF upkeep and international travel since 2016.

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The sum consists of N62.47 billion for the PAF’s maintenance and operation, N17.29 billion for travel abroad and domestically, and N2.04 billion set aside for miscellaneous associated costs.

Since the Buhari administration began in May 2015, the Presidency has kept 10 aircraft in service.

It consists of a Boeing Business Jet (Boeing 737-800 or NAF 001), two Falcons 7X, one Hawker Siddeley 4000, two AgustaWestland AW139 helicopters, and two AgustaWestland AW101 helicopters. There is also a Gulfstream G550 and a Gulfstream V (Gulfstream 500).

Checks showed that Buhari’s administration had not kept this commitment, despite his pledge to minimize the cost of governance, which included a promise to reduce the size of the fleet.

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However, the two AgustaWestland AW101 VIP helicopters in the presidential fleet were handed over to the Air Force by Maj. Gen. Babagana Monguno (retired), the national security adviser.

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