The Federal Government of Nigeria spent over ₦19 billion on the Presidential Air Fleet’s upkeep and operations between July 2023 and September 2024, based on findings from a civic tech platform, Gov spend, which monitors government expenditures.
This substantial spending covered various operational costs, with most funds labeled as “Forex Transit Funds.” These funds are used to meet foreign exchange needs for expenses like refueling and maintenance services in international locations. An official explained that these payments, often made in U.S. dollars or other foreign currencies, ensure the fleet can operate smoothly abroad.
Significant payments include a ₦1.52 billion disbursement in July 2023, split between ₦846 million and ₦675 million, followed by three transfers in August totaling ₦3.1 billion. By November, another ₦1.26 billion had been funneled into the fleet’s account. Entering 2024, the fleet saw a series of large disbursements: ₦2.54 billion in March, ₦6.35 billion in April, ₦4.97 billion in May, and ₦210 million in July. August recorded the largest transactions with ₦5.6 billion issued in multiple tranches. Notably, ₦5.08 billion was released in late April, aligning with President Tinubu’s trips to the Netherlands and Saudi Arabia.
President Tinubu flew to the Netherlands in a Gulfstream Aerospace G550, but due to technical issues with the aircraft, he had to switch to a chartered plane to continue to Saudi Arabia. At that time, the primary presidential jet, a Boeing 737, was undergoing maintenance, prompting the purchase of a new Airbus A330 for $100 million. Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information, Bayo Onanuga, emphasized that the A330 would lower maintenance and fuel costs in the long term, replacing an older, costly Boeing 737 that had been in service since it was acquired under former President Obasanjo’s administration.
The Presidential Air Fleet is one of the largest in Africa, with about 11 aircraft including newer models like the A330, as well as older planes such as a 19 year old Boeing 737-700 and a 13 year old Gulfstream G550. The new A330-200, purchased secondhand but with state-of-the-art customizations, is intended to ensure safer and more efficient international travel for Nigerian leaders. Onanuga defended the purchase as a national asset, emphasizing that the jet belongs to Nigeria and supports the president’s safety and operational needs.
The fleet’s rising costs, however, have faced criticism. Over recent years, the Presidential Air Fleet’s budget allocation has ballooned, jumping from ₦4.37 billion in 2017 to ₦20.52 billion in 2024—an increase of 370%. Costs rose sharply from 2021 onward, with a notable 84% increase that year due to higher capital project investments.
The allocation for fleet maintenance hit ₦12.48 billion in 2022, ₦13.07 billion in 2023, and reached ₦20.52 billion in 2024. Each aircraft reportedly incurs maintenance costs between $1.5 million and $4.5 million annually. Factors like the depreciating naira, rising security concerns, and aging aircraft are cited as driving this cost increase. Aviation expert Olumide Ohunayo noted that maintenance expenses continue to climb as the dollar strengthens against the naira, affecting training, parts replacement, and insurance.
Meanwhile, the administration has put three planes up for sale since April 2023 to streamline costs, though details on specific aircraft were not provided. Previously, attempts to sell some fleet planes stalled due to low offers. Executive Chairman of the Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership, Debo Adeniran, criticized the high expenditures, pointing to missed opportunities for budget cuts. He argued that these spending habits, especially with the replacement of costly aircraft, contrast with the austerity expected by Nigerians.
In a recent incident, the Vice President’s Gulfstream aircraft sustained windshield damage during a stop at JFK Airport en route to the 2024 Commonwealth Heads of Government Summit in Samoa, leading him to cancel the trip. The cancellation, Adeniran argued, potentially undermined Nigeria’s international representation and wasted funds on pre-arrangements for the summit.
These high expenses on the Presidential Air Fleet underscore a growing debate over priorities in government spending amid economic challenges and rising costs in Nigeria.
