The Federal Government is building a helipad in Daura, Katsina State, in order to ensure a direct flight for President Muhammadu Buhari whenever he visits his country home.

The helipad, THISDAY was informed, will save President Buhari the hassles of embarking on a road journey from Katsina Airport. A source informed THISDAY on Saturday that the helipad when completed will make it easy to fly the President in one of the Presidential helicopters straight to Daura and by-pass Katsina Airport completely.

“I can tell you that right now, they are building a Helipad in Daura and when it is completed he doesn’t have to fly to Katsina Airport again. Helipad is a kind of landing for Helicopters”, the source said.

Also speaking to THISDAY, the source confirmed that presently there are only six functional Aircraft at the Presidential Air Fleet (PAF).

“The maximum number of functional planes we have right now is six and out of that six there is a high usage for it. Consider that last week in one day, the President used one to Katsina, the Vice President used the other one to Lagos, and the Senate President used the third one to meeting President Olusegun Obasanjo at Abeokuta via Lagos and later to Ilorin, Kwara state.

“The thing is that all these while, even under the previous government we only have six serviceable Presidential aircraft,” the source noted.

THISDAY had earlier reported that President Buhari has directed that nine of the VIP transport aircraft under the presidential fleet should be sold as part of the federal government’s cost-saving measures.

The Presidency has since denied such directives but industry sources also informed THISDAY that the presidential fleet, which are registered as Nigerian Air Force aircraft, is one of the largest in Africa and the third largest in Nigeria after Arik Air and Aero Contractors.

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 dining area, and a living area, the plane seats 25 to 50 passengers and would cost at least $100 million to replace today.

Eagle One can spend 12 hours in the air, covering 11,489 kilometres or 6,200 nautical miles.

In addition to the Boeing 733 reserved for the president, the fleet boasts two Gulfstream 550 jets. The Gulfstream 550 can seat eight to 18 passengers, depending on the configuration, and has a cruiser range of 12,501 kilometres or 6,750 nautical miles. A new luxury Gulfstream 550 would cost an estimated $53.5 million.

According to Wikipedia, other planes in the Nigerian Air Force VIP transport fleet include two Dassault Falcon 7X jets, one Hawker Siddeley 125-800 and one Cessna 550 Citation II.

Information from a Nigerian web portal and Nigerian Air Force sources further revealed that the fleet also boasts two Dassault Falcon 900 jets, a Gulfstream IVSP, a Gulfstream V, a Dornier Do 228, which can carry 19 passengers, one Beechcraft King Air B200, and three Augusta Westland AW139 helicopters.

Sources said each of the two Dassault Falcon 7X jets were purchased for $51.1 million in 2010, while the Gulfstream 550 costs $53.3 million.

Aviation experts also put the average price of the Falcon 900 at $35 million; Gulfstream IVSP at $40 million; Gulfstream V at $45 million; Cessna Citation at $7 million; and the Hawker Siddeley at $15 million.

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 Augusta Westland 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 Augusta Westland 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.
http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/presidency-builds-helipad-in-daura-maintains-only-six-serviceable-aircraft/213261/
Cc lalasticlala

..

More cost cutting measures I guess ......
Jonathan didn't need to build an helipad, his chopper always landed either on an open field in Otuoke or at the Bayelsa Govt House

What do you expect?
This is what they are born to do yet they are still last in anything education, security and human capital.

Selfish piece of Janjaweedz

I thought the Daura President came to fight corruption.
What is he still doing with 9 Jets?
Why not sell off 6 and retain 3.
1 for you.
1 for your commissioner sorry Vice.
1 for the Senate President and other official tour.
There has to be a clear definition of your CHANGE from Jonathan's TRANSFORMATION.
By keeping those Jets then i won't be wrong to admit that CHANGE and TRANSFORMATION are the same.

ehn en , so everybody would build Helipad in their village when he/she become president.

Bad precedents o.

Change

Slynonny:
I thought the Daura President came to fight corruption.
What is he still doing with 9 Jets?
Why not sale off 6 and retain 3.
1 for you.
1 for your commissioner sorry Vice.
1 for the Senate President and other official tour.
There has to be a clear definition of your CHANGE from Jonathan's TRANSFORMATION.
By keeping those Jets then i won't be wrong to admit that CHANGE and TRANSFORMATION are the same.

this is how you fail exams..

Now go back and read the news again, maybe you will have a better understanding.

Good for the president. One of the benefit of a president

Goodwill is very easily eroded

Thing is if PMB has not been stretching the patience of nigerians with his gross inaction, this wouldn't have been an issue. For Christ's sake it's a HELIPAD

Is building a helipad in Daura so necessary...

If you still have faith in this Govt, then your faith can make the earth flat.

I'm not taken aback. Buhari has Nothing to offer... My pain is on d media 4 calling GEJ a bad name just to hang him.

“The thing is that all these while, even under the previous government we only have six serviceable Presidential aircraft,” the source noted.[b][/b]

so its now six but the press has been reporting that there are 16 air crafts in the presidential fleet without bordering to offer explanations
on how many were serviceable or how they are being used.

Oga buhari is this part of our change? Helipad in daura?

Building a helipad which will allow the President fly to Daura directly from the villa will be a cheaper option than using the Eagle One Presidential jet to first fly to Katsina and then moving the entire convoy by road to Daura, a trip that is repeated for his return as well.

Let's keep in mind that the soil in Otueke is loamy so a helipad is not necessary for safe landing, in contrast to the sandy Daura soil which would raise dust when landing that could dangerously block the pilots visibility. The construction cost of a helipad is about N2 million.

This is a 'clueful' decision which is highly efficient, especially as it significantly reduces the cost of governance.

SenseiX:
More cost cutting measures I guess ......
Jonathan didn't need to build an helipad, his chopper always landed either on an open field in Otuoke or at the Bayelsa Govt House

It doesn't cost a lot of money to build helipad just mix cement together its not going to be like the chief of Benue state David Mark's house with helipad on his roof.

Sai Buhari, changi.

Next news will be "cattle ranch under construction in Aso Villa"

Once again, Sai Buhari Changi.

ZeezaRapture:


this is how you fail exams..

Now go back and read the news again, maybe you will have a better understanding.

Tell the Dogo Yaro to sell off those Jets if he is truly there to fight Corruption.

I see no benefit in doing such, this is looting in the highest order! Who wil checkmate all the expenses? How would this benefit all Nigerians? Buhari! Remember the oath of office you sweard to! Your administration is already failing Nigerians..why would you emback on such projects when you haven't even name one minister? Hmmm...we are watching all your excesses on 5D screen oo

T

Since you all ignorantly voted for change never figuring out if it was negative or positive, ya lot can enjoy the change
Una never see nada

hmm

[size=18pt]I think this is a waste of resourced...wh6 dnt he build a full sized private airport on his backyard of better still parachute into his house from the predidential jet since he is a trained military man[/size]

But GEJ didn't build a helipad in Otoueke. This change sef! well, let's keep watching

Nigeria and mismanagement






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