The Federal Government has spent N19.43 billion to maintain and operate the Presidential Air Fleet in the last 15 months, according to data from GovSpend, a civic tech platform that tracks and analyses the apex government’s spending.
The report highlights how this spending was directed towards upkeep and foreign exchange needs for the fleet, which consists of about 11 aircraft.
In 2024 alone, the expenses reached N13.55 billion, covering 66% of the annual allocation. Much of this was labeled “Forex Transit Funds,” used for international transactions such as fuel purchases and maintenance.
“When aircraft on the fleet are abroad, payments are often made in U.S. dollars or another foreign currency to ensure uninterrupted operations,” a government official explained.
Since July 2023, payments for the fleet have included N3.1 billion in August and another N5.60 billion in various transactions. Maintenance challenges have led to major costs, including the purchase of a refurbished Airbus A330 in August for $100 million.
This plane replaced an older Boeing 737 that, according to Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu.
Onanuga noted, “The President didn’t buy a new jet; what he has is a refurbished jet – a much newer model than the one President Buhari used. Nigerians should prioritise the safety of the President…we want his safety so he can serve the country.”
Onanuga added that aging planes increase maintenance costs and stressed that the fleet’s expenses serve the public’s interests, not the President’s alone.
Aviation expert, Olumide Ohunayo, highlighted rising costs due to the fleet’s aging planes and the declining naira, which increases dollar-based costs like crew training and part replacements. “As the naira keeps falling…we’ll see a rise in costs. The older the aircraft, the higher the maintenance cost,” he said. Terrorism-related expenses have also driven up fleet insurance costs.
The Chairman of the Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership, Debo Adeniran, criticised the spending, saying it contradicts public expectations.
“What we’re getting from this administration is opposite to our expectation…they’ve fallen in love with profligacy,” he said, drawing a parallel to the spending habits of previous administrations.
Adeniran questioned why the Vice President would cancel a trip to Samoa over a damaged windshield, especially given the associated costs and lost representation at the event.
In response to budget allocations rising from N4.37 billion in 2017 to N20.52 billion in 2024, Adeniran called for greater financial discipline: “We need an administration that’s frugal and meticulous…not living big while the masses suffer.”
