Tinubu bought refurbished jet, not new one – Onanuga

“It’s not President Tinubu’s plane; it belongs to the people of Nigeria, it is our property,” Onanuga stated today.

He explained that several jets in the presidential fleet, including a 19-year-old Boeing B737-700 purchased under former President Olusegun Obasanjo, are in poor condition with exorbitant maintenance costs.

Therefore, instead of incurring excessive expenses on aircraft upkeep, the President sought approval from the National Assembly for a refurbished jet that is still in good shape.

Onanuga noted that the refurbished Airbus A330 would help Nigeria save on high maintenance costs associated with the older aircraft.

He urged Nigerians to prioritize the President’s safety, emphasizing that the newly acquired plane is Nigeria’s asset, not personal property of Tinubu.

The spokesman added that Tinubu will not keep the newly acquired jet after leaving office, as it will also serve his successor.

Onanuga said, “The president did not purchase a new jet; what he has is a refurbished one – it has been previously used, but it is a much newer model than the one used by President Buhari.

“The jet used by President Buhari was acquired by President Obasanjo almost 20 years ago.

“There was an instance when the President traveled to Saudi Arabia, and his plane experienced some issues, requiring him to return via a chartered jet to The Netherlands.”

‘Prioritize Tinubu’s Safety’
The presidential spokesman mentioned his conversation with National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu regarding the malfunctioning plane, where it was concluded that maintenance costs were unreasonably high due to the aircraft’s age, emphasizing the need for a different plane.

“People should focus on ensuring the president’s safety. I doubt anyone wishes for our president to crash while flying. We want him safe so that he can pass the baton to whoever succeeds him,” Onanuga remarked.

While the Presidency continues to defend Tinubu’s decision to acquire the refurbished Airbus A330, many Nigerians and some of his rivals from the 2023 election have criticized the move, suggesting it shows a lack of sensitivity to the struggles of poor Nigerians facing severe food inflation and skyrocketing energy costs over the past year.

Concerns about the state of the Presidential Air Fleet have grown recently.

In May, a malfunctioning presidential jet prevented Vice President Kashim Shettima from attending the 2024 US-Africa Business Summit hosted by the Corporate Council on Africa.

Last December, a presidential aircraft, Falcon 900B, was put up for sale, with the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) inviting interested parties to submit bids for its purchase.