According to reports, the presidential aviation fleet has been allocated about ninety billion Naira (N90 billion) during the last nine years.
The stated amount takes into account the significant financial contributions made by the Federal Government during the administrations of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and former President Muhammadu Buhari.
According to Anaedoonline.ng, the nation’s budgetary allocations have been steadily rising, which has prompted questions from concerned individuals regarding the government’s financial priorities and the prudent use of public monies.
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The presidential fleets were allocated N20.42 billion during the first term of former President Muhammadu Buhari, and that number unexpectedly rose to N41 billion during his second term.
The House of Representatives recently heard President Tinubu’s presentation of the 2023 supplemental budget proposal. Notably, N12.7 billion in budgetary support is planned for the Presidential Air Fleet, which is housed within the Office of the National Security Adviser division.
The approved budget’s total budget allocation for the Presidential Air Fleet is N25.7 billion, when added to the N13 billion originally allotted.
The distribution of resources has spurred a national conversation about their significance and raised expectations for responsibility and openness in their use.
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Nigeria’s presidential air fleet, commonly known as Nigeria Air Force One, is composed of a variety of aircraft, such as Boeing Business Jets (BBJ) 737, Gulfstream G550, Gulfstream G500, two Falcon 7X, HS 4000, two Agusta 139, and two Agusta 101.
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According to Anaedoonline.ng, Buhari had promised in 2015 to lower the expense of government and even had plans to sell two opulent aircraft: a Beechcraft Hawker 4000 business jet and a Dassault Falcon 7x executive jet.
Preferred bidders first agreed to a predicted sales amount of $24 million but later attempted to bargain at $11 million, Vanguard claims, creating difficulties for the sale process.
In addition, the Hawker 4000 aircraft was put up for sale in September 2020, however the President has not yet officially confirmed the transaction.
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It is noteworthy that two AgustaWestland AW101 VIP helicopters were transferred from the presidential fleet to the Air Force by retired Major General Babagana Monguno, who served as the National Security Advisor.
Over time, there have been variations in the budgetary allotments. The Presidential Air Fleet received an allocation of N3.65 billion in 2016. This amount increased to N4.37 billion, N7.26 billion, and N7.30 billion in 2017, 2018, and 2019, respectively. But in 2020, there was a minor decrease of N503.75 million when N6.79 billion was allocated because of the COVID-19 pandemic-related worldwide lockdown, which had a major effect on aviation operations.
The amount increased to N12.55 billion and N12.48 billion for the fiscal budgets of 2021 and 2022, respectively, in the two years that followed the pandemic.
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In response to the latest events, Alex Nwuba, the former CEO of Associated Airlines and President of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association of Nigeria, acknowledged the difficulties facing the economy, which included a 50% depreciation of the naira, inflation above 30%, and rising unemployment rates.
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He said: “We can at least expect a doubling of the budget as illustrated.
“Aviation is a key governance tool, but in tight economic times, we need to tighten our belts and avoid abuse like unauthorized use of public assets.”
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