Presidential aide Bayo Onanuga clarifies that President Tinubu’s recent jet purchase is a refurbished model, bought as an asset for Nigeria, not a new private acquisition. Read more on this clarification.
According to presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga, President Bola Tinubu did not obtain a new official jet but rather a refurbished one, contrary to popular belief.
On the Sunday edition of “Inside Sources with Laolu Akande,” a socio-economic program broadcast on Channels Television, Onanuga stated, “The plane doesn’t belong to President Tinubu; it is the property of the Nigerian people.”
He mentioned that several jets in the presidential fleet, including a 19-year-old Boeing B737-700 acquired during former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s tenure, are all in poor condition with exorbitant maintenance costs. Therefore, instead of spending an excessive amount on maintaining these aircrafts, the President sought approval from the National Assembly for a refurbished jet that remains in good condition.
Onanuga stated that the renovated Airbus A330 would reduce Nigeria’s maintenance expenses associated with servicing the older aircraft.
Onanuga encouraged Nigerians to prioritize the President’s safety, emphasizing that the newly acquired plane belongs to Nigeria and not Tinubu personally.
The presidential spokesman stated that Tinubu will not take the recently acquired jet when he leaves office. Onanuga mentioned that the jet will also serve his successor.
Onanuga stated, “The president did not purchase a new jet; he acquired a refurbished one that had been previously used by someone else. However, it is a much newer model compared to the one President Buhari utilized.”
The one that President Buhari used was purchased by President Obasanjo around 20 years ago.
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“Once, when the President traveled to Saudi Arabia, their plane encountered issues and they had to continue on a chartered jet to The Netherlands.”
“Ensure Tinubu’s Safety is a Priority”
The presidential spokesman mentioned that he had a conversation with the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, regarding the faulty plane. The NSA indicated that due to its age, maintenance costs have become exorbitant and therefore acquiring another plane is necessary.
“Onanuga emphasized that ensuring the president’s safety should be a top priority for everyone. He expressed doubt that anyone would want to see harm come to the president, as his well-being is crucial for him to smoothly transition power when needed.”
Although the Presidency has maintained its support for Tinubu’s decision to acquire a refurbished Airbus A330, many Nigerians and some of his opponents from the 2023 election have criticized this action. They argued that it showed insensitivity towards poor Nigerians struggling with soaring food inflation and energy prices, which have quadrupled over the past year.
The condition of the Presidential Air Fleet has recently raised concerns. In May, a malfunctioning presidential jet prevented Vice President Kashim Shettima from attending the 2024 US-Africa Business Summit organized by the Corporate Council on Africa.
In December, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) announced that the presidential aircraft Falcon 900B was available for sale and invited interested buyers to submit their bids.
