Tinubu’s New Presidential Jet Purchase Sparks Controversy Amid Economic Struggles
Checks reveal that the newly acquired presidential jet is 15 years old. Initially delivered to Saudi Arabian company Midroc Aviation in 2009, the aircraft was later sold to AMAC Aerospace in Sweden in 2021 before being purchased by the Nigerian government.
On Monday, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu embarked on a trip to France using a newly acquired presidential aircraft. This development has raised eyebrows across Nigeria, particularly given the ongoing economic challenges facing the country. The new jet, an Airbus A330-200, reportedly landed in Nigeria on Sunday, August 18, 2024, just in time for the President’s international travel.
Bayo Onanuga, a senior spokesperson for Tinubu, confirmed the arrival of the new Airbus A330-200, which is set to replace the aging Boeing B737-700 (BBJ) acquired during President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration 19 years ago. The decision to purchase a new aircraft has sparked a wave of discussions, especially in light of Nigeria’s struggling economy and the widespread hardship faced by its citizens.
Checks by BBC reveal that the newly acquired presidential jet is 15 years old. Initially delivered to Saudi Arabian company Midroc Aviation in 2009, the aircraft was later sold to AMAC Aerospace in Sweden in 2021 before being purchased by the Nigerian government. The plane had been stationed at the Basle Mulhouse Freiburg Airport since May until it was brought into Nigeria in mid-August 2024.
The aircraft was listed for sale on a website called Aircraft24, a platform dedicated to the buying and selling of airplanes, as reported by Bloomberg. According to Onanuga, the plane boasts a spacious interior, state-of-the-art avionics, a customized interior, and advanced communication systems, making it a suitable replacement for the outdated presidential jet.
One of the primary concerns surrounding the purchase of the new jet is whether the presidency obtained the necessary approval from the Nigerian Senate before making the acquisition. According to Nigerian law, such a purchase typically requires Senate approval.
Back in June 2024, when President Tinubu submitted a supplementary budget to the National Assembly, rumors circulated that the budget included funds for a new presidential aircraft. However, Senate President Godswill Akpabio denied these claims, stating that there was no mention of a new plane in the president’s correspondence to the Senate.
“I have reviewed the president’s communications with us, and there is nothing related to the purchase of a new plane,” Akpabio said at the time. “However, given past incidents like the deaths of the vice president of Malawi and the president of Iran due to defective aircraft, we would never wish such a fate upon our country. If the matter arises in the future and is deemed necessary, we will consider it. But for now, nothing of the sort has been brought before us.”
No further reports have surfaced regarding Senate approval for the new jet, leaving many to question the legality and transparency of the purchase.
Just days before the arrival of the new Airbus A330-200, reports emerged that a Chinese company, Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Ltd, had been granted permission by a French court to seize three Nigerian presidential jets. The court order was related to a dispute between the Chinese company and the Ogun State government over a canceled contract.
In a surprising turn of events, the Chinese company later released one of the seized aircraft, which is said to be the one President Tinubu used for his trip to France. The gesture was reportedly made as an attempt to demonstrate the company’s willingness to act reasonably and fairly in the ongoing legal dispute.
Onanuga’s statement on Monday clarified that the Nigerian Senate’s security and intelligence committee had recommended replacing the aging aircraft in the presidential fleet to reduce downtime and operational expenses. However, it remains unclear when the Senate committee made this recommendation, and the National Assembly has yet to comment on the matter.
The decision to purchase a new presidential jet amid Nigeria’s economic struggles has drawn sharp criticism from opposition leaders and citizens alike. Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election, was among the first to voice his disapproval.
“Witnessing rising insecurity, poverty, hunger, and homelessness, this decision underscores the disconnect between the government and the people,” Obi stated. “It is unacceptable, as the current situation in the country demands more compassionate use of resources and prioritization of citizens’ welfare.”
Obi’s criticism extended further when news broke that the Chinese company had seized three Nigerian presidential jets. He described the incident as a “national embarrassment” and called for greater accountability and transparency in government dealings.
Similarly, officials from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have also condemned the purchase of the new aircraft. Ibrahim Abdullahi, the PDP Deputy Publicity Secretary, criticized the government for prioritizing luxury purchases while Nigerians continue to suffer.
“Despite the hardship in the country and the ongoing economic crisis, the inept APC government remains deaf to the pleas of Nigerians. Yet, they have gone ahead to purchase another aircraft for a fleet that already boasts no fewer than nine presidential planes,” Abdullahi said.
Adding to the controversy, the Nigerian presidency had previously included a provision for five billion naira in the 2023 supplementary budget to purchase a “presidential yacht.” However, the presidency later clarified that the funds were intended for an “operational naval boat,” which was ordered by former President Muhammadu Buhari.
In response to the criticism, the presidency reiterated that “government is a continuum,” and President Tinubu has inherited both the assets and liabilities of previous administrations.
The purchase of a new presidential jet by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has sparked widespread debate in Nigeria, with many questioning the timing and necessity of such an acquisition given the country’s current economic challenges. While the government maintains that the new aircraft is essential for reducing operational expenses and ensuring the president’s safety, the lack of transparency and perceived insensitivity to the plight of ordinary Nigerians has fueled public discontent.
As the controversy continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how the government will address the concerns raised by opposition leaders, citizens, and the National Assembly. In the meantime, the debate over the new presidential jet serves as a stark reminder of the growing disconnect between Nigeria’s leadership and its people.
