Experts react as Tinubu's presidential jet swallows ₦26.38bn in 18 months

The Federal Government under President Bola Tinubu has spent an eye-watering ₦26.38 billion on the Presidential Air Fleet (PAF) between July 2023 and December 2024, according to verified spending records from civic tech platform Govspend.

The hefty expenditure, coming at a time of widespread calls for austerity, has triggered renewed scrutiny over the size and cost of maintaining Nigeria’s executive aircraft fleet.

According to Govspend’s data, the disbursements were made in multiple tranches, with large-scale outflows recorded particularly between April and August 2024. The single highest transaction, ₦5.08bn was made on April 23, 2024.

In one of the most intense spending months, August 2024, the fleet consumed over ₦5.6bn, including ₦2.21bn and ₦1.25bn released on the 5th and ₦902.9m and ₦1.24bn paid on the 6th.

The fleet, managed by the Nigerian Air Force, provides air transport for the President, Vice President, and top government officials.

However, its rising cost has ignited concerns given Nigeria’s fiscal pressures, rising debt service costs, and calls for economic prudence.

Aviation professionals and retired officials have expressed serious concern over the ballooning cost and size of the presidential fleet, blaming factors ranging from exchange rate volatility to excessive aircraft diversity.

Frank Oruye, a former Deputy Director of Engineering at the defunct Nigerian Airways, described the situation as unsustainable unless structural reforms are implemented.

“The fleet includes aircraft from various manufacturers—French, Canadian, American, and even the new Airbus A350. Each of these requires different equipment, spare parts, and specialised personnel. You’re essentially duplicating costs across board,” he explained to Punch in an interview.

Oruye, who once supervised the procurement of aircraft for former President Olusegun Obasanjo, noted that geopolitical risks also shape the decision to diversify the fleet.

“If your entire fleet is from one country and diplomatic relations deteriorate, your operations could be paralysed. But that also makes the cost of operations much higher,” he said.

He added that even with local maintenance efforts, the lack of indigenous manufacturing means most aviation equipment must still be imported.

“We are a consumer nation. Even if you try to build capacity locally, the costs remain dollar-denominated,” he warned.

Retired Group Captain John Ojukutu, an aviation expert and former military officer, was more blunt in his criticism. He described the fleet as "oversized, unnecessary, and economically unviable."

“How many people are really using these aircraft?” he asked. “Are we allocating one jet per official in the presidency? It is absurd.”

Ojukutu advocated slashing the number of aircraft from ten to just four for the President and Vice President, with the National Assembly possibly sharing two more.

He cited a past proposal by former President Muhammadu Buhari to reduce the fleet, calling it a wise and overdue move.

“It’s common sense. These planes are not flying daily like Air Peace. So why spend billions on routine maintenance?” he queried.

Ojukutu also questioned the frequency of costly procedures like C-checks—a comprehensive aircraft maintenance process usually scheduled after long hours of operation. “Are all these jets truly due for such checks every year?”

During President Buhari’s tenure from 2016 to 2022, approximately ₦81.8bn was allocated for the PAF, including ₦62.47bn for maintenance, ₦17.29bn for travel, and ₦2.04bn for other related expenses.

The Presidency maintained 10 aircraft throughout Buhari’s administration, a figure yet to be officially reduced under President Tinubu.

The PAF’s operational cost continues to dominate public debate, especially amid rising inflation, a weakened naira, and calls for fiscal discipline.

As Oruye and Ojukutu pointed out, maintaining a sprawling fleet in an import-dependent country is a luxury Nigeria can no longer afford.

“Leadership should lead by example. You can’t ask Nigerians to tighten their belts while you fly around in a fleet worth billions,” Ojukutu said.

With pressure mounting, stakeholders say it’s time for a comprehensive audit of the Presidential Air Fleet and a restructuring plan that reflects the nation’s economic realities.