According to a research, the Presidential Air Fleet (PAF) maintenance and operations cost the Federal Government an astounding N19.43 billion between July 2023 and September 2024.
Data from GovSpend, a civic tech platform that tracks government spending, was used to highlight this expense. N13.55 billion was allotted in 2024, which made up 66% of the fleet’s annual budget.
The majority of these monies were designated as “Forex Transit Funds,” and they were used to pay for foreign currency services, maintenance, and fuel for overseas operations.
N1.52 billion in July 2023 and N5.60 billion in August 2024 are two significant disbursements, with many payments going to the PAF’s naira transit account.
Notably, N5.08 billion was allotted in April 2024 while President Tinubu was travelling to two different countries. He had to finish the journey aboard a rented aircraft at this time since his Boeing 737 business jet was grounded for repair.
Due to ageing aircraft, the Presidential Air Fleet, which consists of about 11 aircraft, has seen rising expenses. In August 2024, the outdated Boeing 737 was replaced by a brand-new Airbus A330, which cost $100 million.
The administration and defence authorities have defended the large expenditure by pointing to the importance of operational effectiveness and the President’s protection.
Nonetheless, detractors, such as anti-corruption advocates, contend that these expenditures are out of proportion to the country’s financial difficulties, particularly given the growing cost of living.
Due in part to inflation and the age of the aircraft, the fleet’s allocations increased from N4.37 billion in 2017 to N20.52 billion in 2024. Critics also point to the Nigerian Air Force’s commercial aircraft use and the nation’s growing insecurity, both of which have increased operating costs. In response, Bayo Onanuga, the Presidential Adviser on Information and Strategy, defended the fleet’s operations, emphasising that the high maintenance expenditures and new aircraft were not for the President’s personal use but rather served the national interest.
Nonetheless, some Nigerians are still worried about the administration’s spending patterns, especially in light of the economic struggles and many citizens face.
