Checkout How Much FG Spent On Presidential Jets In Six Months

The Federal Government may have spent about
N5.8bn on the 10-aircraft Presidential Air Fleet it
inherited from the former President Goodluck
Jonathan’s administration, findings by Saturday
PUNCH have shown.
The PAF is the third largest fleet in the country,
coming after Arik Air and Aerocontractors Airlines
which have 23 and 12 aircraft in their fleets
respectively.
Other domestic airlines including FirstNation,
MedView Airlines, Dana Air, Air Peace and Overland
Airways have less than 10 aircraft each in their
fleets.
According to calculations done from estimated data
obtained from aviation parastatals and domestic
airline operators in the country, President
Muhammadu Buhari’s administration will have
spent about $58.58m (N11.598bn) on running and
maintaining the 10-aicraft presidential fleet by May
29 next year when it turns one year in office.
This means that the half of this amount, $29.29m
(N5.799bn), is expected to have been spent in
principle on the large fleet when administration
turns six months in office by November 29.
According to findings, the PAF contains two Falcon
7X jets, two Falcon 900 jets, one Gulfstream 550,
one Boeing 737 BBJ (Nigerian Air Force 001 or
Eagle One), and Gulfstream IVSP.
Others are one Gulfstream V, Cessna Citation 2 and
Hawker Siddley 125-800 jet.
Each of the two Falcon 7X jets were purchased in
2010 by the Federal Government for $51.1m, while
the Gulfstream 550 costs $53.3m, a former Minister
of Information, the late Professor, Dora Akunyili,
had said.
The factory price of other aircraft in the fleet could
not be obtained online. However, airline CEOs put
the average price of Falcon 900 at $35m, Gulfstream
IVSP at $40m, Gulfstream V at $45m, Boeing
737-800 (Boeing Business Jet) at $58m, Cessna
Citation at $7m and Hawker Siddley 125-800 at
$15m.
This brings a combined estimated value of
Nigeria’s PAF to $390.5m (N77.319bn).
According to airline chief executives and industry
experts, airlines spend between 15 and 20 per cent
of the cost of an aircraft on its operation yearly.
They say that averagely, a little less than one-fifth
of the cost of the plane is spent every year on
insurance, flight and cabin crew, maintenance,
fuelling, catering and training.
Using the least figure of 15 per cent, it means that
about $58.58m (N11.598bn) will be spent on the
presidential fleet (which is valued at $390.5m or
N77.319bn) when the new administration turns one
year by May 29 next year.
Apparently, by November 29 when it turns six
months in office, about half of this amount
($29.29m or N5.799bn) should have been budgeted
for the running and maintenance of the planes.
According to the Nigerian Air Force’s website, the
PAF’s current staff strength consists of 47 NAF
officers, 173 airmen/airwomen and 96 technical and
administrative civilians.
“The operational headquarters of the fleet is
located at the presidential wing of the Nnamdi
Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, while the
administrative personnel are at the federal
secretariat. The fleet has a liaison office at the
Presidential Villa. Flight operations, training,
aircraft maintenance and general running of the
fleet are funded by the Presidency,” according to
the website.
Nigeria happens to be one of few countries of the
world with a large PAF.
Most major countries in Europe and Asia maintain
two aircraft in their PAF, according to Wikipedia.
According to the online portal, Japan maintains
only two Boeing 747-400 planes in its PAF.
The two aircraft, mostly for the prime minister, the
emperor and his wife, and other members of the
Imperial Family, is operated by the Japan Air Self-
Defence Force.
The aircraft were constructed at the Boeing factory
at the same time as the United States’ Air Force
One. Both Japanese aircraft were delivered in 1990.
Wikipedia also states that the Netherlands
government operates only two aircraft, a Fokker 70
and Gulfstream IV to transport the Dutch Royal
family and government officials such as the Prime
Minister and other ministers.
They are also used for international conferences
and for private trips by the Queen and the Prince of
Orange. For long haul trips, the Royal Dutch Airline
is used. Often the upper deck of a Boeing 747 is
used.
The Queen of England and the Prime Minister,
David Cameron, often go on British Airways
chartered flights for long trips. Cameron was
recently criticised by the United Kingdom media for
chartering a foreign plane instead of a British.
According to Wikipedia, the Royal Squadron of the
Royal Air Force maintains a fleet of Agusta A109
helicopters, BAE-125 mid-sized business jet and
BAE-146 regional airliner to support short travel by
the Royal Family, the Prime Minister and senior
members of the British Government.
Countries like Ghana, Algeria and a host of others
in Europe maintain only one aircraft in their PAF.
A few weeks after his inauguration, Buhari had
reportedly ordered the immediate disposal of some
of the planes in the PAF.
However, the Senior Special a$$istant to the
President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu,
later denied knowledge of such directive.
“The story of the order for the sale of aircraft in the
Presidential Fleet, about which so much interest is
being expressed, is not known to us,” Shehu said.
The exact size of the PAF is treated as cla$$ified
information and aviation sources believe the
aircraft in the fleet is about 16.
Chief of the planes in the fleet is the Boeing 738
BBJ, NAF 001 or Eagle One, used by the president
for his travels.
With its luxury configuration comprising a master
bedroom, washrooms and showers, a conference
and dinning area, and a living area, the plane seats
25 to 50 pa$$engers and would cost at least $100m
to replace.
Eagle One can spend 12 hours in the air, covering
11,489 kilomtres or 6,200 nautical miles.
Apart from the Eagle One, the fleet boasts of
Gulfstream 550 jet. The Gulfstream 550 can seat
eight to 18 pa$$engers, depending on the
configuration, and has a cruiser range of 12,501
kilometres or 6,750 nautical miles.
There are reports that Buhari may also order the
sale of about 25 aircraft owned by ministries,
departments and agencies.
These include Nigeria Customs Service, which has
four aircraft namely two Bell helicopters, one
Dornier 228 and one Cessna Citation private jet; the
Nigerian Police Force, which has 10 helicopters
and one Cessna Sovereign private jet; and the
Nigeria Immigration Service, which has six aircraft
that are being used for border patrol.
Others are the National Emergency Management
Agency, which has four helicopters and one Cessna
Encorprivate jet; the Ministry of Aviation, which
has a Hawker Siddley calibration jet that is not
being used; and the defunct Power Holding
Company of Nigeria which has six German-made
helicopters that are no longer serviceable.
Aviation experts said there was need for Buhari to
reduce the size of the PAF.
The General Secretary, Aviation Round Table, an
industry pressure group, Group Captain John
Ojikutu, said Buhari needed to reduce the PAF and
sell aircraft belonging to most of the MDAs.
A former a$$istant General Secretary, Airline
Operators of Nigeria, Mr. Muhammed Tukur, also
said the aircraft could be sold to both airline
operators and private individuals who could use
them for commercial purposes.
He said that this could generate more revenue and
create jobs.