A recent report reveals that over N19.43 billion was spent on maintaining and operating Nigeria's Presidential Air Fleet between July 2023 and September 2024. Data from GovSpend, a platform tracking government expenses, shows that N13.55 billion of this amount was allocated in 2024 alone, comprising 66% of the year’s budget for the fleet. Much of these funds were marked as "Forex Transit Funds," used primarily to cover operational expenses abroad, such as fuel and maintenance paid in foreign currency.
In July 2023, the fleet received N1.52 billion in two payments of N846 million and N675 million, while N3.1 billion was allocated in August across three disbursements. Subsequent months saw significant allocations, including N6.35 billion in April and N5.60 billion across six payments in August. This spending coincided with international trips, such as President Tinubu’s two-nation tour to the Netherlands and Saudi Arabia, where his usual Boeing 737 jet was undergoing maintenance, necessitating the use of a chartered private plane.
The aging presidential fleet, which includes a Gulfstream G500, two Falcon 7Xs, and a Challenger 605, among others, has led to increased maintenance costs. The recently purchased Airbus A330—acquired for $100 million—is intended to reduce these costs and enhance safety. Presidential aide Bayo Onanuga defended the purchase, emphasizing the need for reliable transport to ensure the president’s safety.
The Nigerian Presidential Air Fleet, considered one of Africa's largest, has seen its budget grow steadily, increasing from N4.37 billion in 2017 to N20.52 billion in 2024, despite an attempted reduction in fleet size during former President Buhari’s tenure. In 2023, three jets were put up for sale, though specifics were not provided.
Maintenance costs per aircraft are substantial, ranging from $1.5 million to $4.5 million annually. The 2022, 2023, and 2024 budgets allocated N12.48 billion, N13.07 billion, and N20.52 billion, respectively. The importance of the fleet’s upkeep was underscored when a foreign object damaged Vice President Kashim Shettima’s Gulfstream aircraft during a stopover in New York in 2024 while en route to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Summit.
