President Buhari Orders Sale of 9 Presidential Jets to Reduce Cost
SPECIAL REPORTS

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2015-06-19 10:03:47


President Muhammadu Buhari has reportedly ordered the sale of nine planes in the presidential fleet as part of measures to square up to the austerity eating deep into the system.

According to reports gathered by ThisDay, President Buhari is uncomfortable with the over N12 billion spent by Federal Government is annually for the maintenance of the said presidential fleet, hence the directive.




The report further revealed that the presidential fleet, which is registered as part of Nigerian Air Force aircraft, is one of the largest in Africa and the third largest in Nigeria after Arik Air and Aero Contractors.

According to an aviation source, who is aware of the directive to sell the aircraft, the presidency has a number of serviceable and unserviceable aircraft that need to be disposed of in order to reduce the amount spent by the federal government for aircraft maintenance annually.

 “Nine, which still have market value, are to be sold immediately to reduce maintenance costs,” he said.

For years, the federal government has spent over N12 billion annually for the maintenance of the presidential fleet.

Although information on the exact size of the fleet is treated as classified information, the fleet, according to aviation sources, is believed to comprise about 16 aircraft, chief of which 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 passengers and would cost at least $100 million to replace today.

THISDAY also discovered that though all the aircraft are under the presidential fleet, about eight of the planes are reserved strictly for the president.

These are the Boeing 737, the two Gulfstream 550 jets, the Gulfstream V jet, two Falcon 7X planes, the Hawker Siddeley aircraft and one AugustaWestland chopper.

Others are reserved for executive airlift. Aircraft used for this function include the two Falcon 900 planes, the Dornier, the Cessna Citation, the Beechracft King Air, and two AugustaWestland choppers.

Aircraft reserved for executive airlift are used by the Vice-President, Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and could be used to convey African heads of states visiting or departing Nigeria.
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