Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga has clarified that President Bola Tinubu did not acquire a new official jet, as widely believed, but rather a refurbished one.
Onanuga made this statement during the Sunday edition of Inside Sources with Laolu Akande, aired on Channels Television.
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According to Onanuga, the newly acquired Airbus A330 belongs to Nigeria, emphasizing, “It’s not President Tinubu’s plane; it belongs to the people of Nigeria, it is our property.” He added that certain aircraft in the presidential fleet, including a 19-year-old Boeing B737-700 purchased during former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration, are now in poor condition, with maintenance costs skyrocketing.
Instead of investing heavily in keeping the outdated planes airworthy, Tinubu opted for a refurbished jet with National Assembly approval. “The president did not buy a new jet; what he has is a refurbished jet—it has been used by somebody else before he got it but it is a much newer model than the one President Buhari used,” Onanuga noted.
He urged Nigerians to focus on the President’s safety, reminding them that the new jet is intended to serve future Nigerian presidents as well.
“The one President Buhari used was bought by President Obasanjo some 20 years ago,” Onanuga explained, recounting an instance when Tinubu had to charter a plane after a presidential jet malfunctioned during a trip to Saudi Arabia.
Onanuga disclosed he consulted with National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu about the state of the faulty plane, who confirmed that repair costs had become exorbitant due to its age. “People should try to prioritise the safety of the president,” Onanuga stated, “I’m not sure anybody wishes our president to go and crash in the air.”
Despite these assurances, Tinubu’s decision has drawn criticism from Nigerians and political opponents, who view the acquisition as insensitive to the economic hardships many citizens are facing. Some argue that in light of surging food inflation and energy costs, the purchase demonstrates a lack of empathy.
The deteriorating state of the Presidential Air Fleet has caused concern in recent months. In May, a malfunctioning jet prevented Vice President Kashim Shettima from attending the 2024 US-Africa Business Summit hosted by the Corporate Council on Africa.
