₦airaland Forum

Breaking promise to cut waste, Buhari spends N41bn on presidential fleet

Under the regime of the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd), the Presidential Air Fleet has so far cost taxpayers a total of N41.9bn, contrary to the promise Buhari made during the 2015 presidential election campaigns to reduce waste in governance by downsizing the presidential fleet.

As of October 2016, when the Presidency last made a public inventory of the PAF, the fleet included 10 aircraft, namely one Boeing Business Jet (or Air Force One) 737, one Gulfstream G550, one Gulfstream G500, one Hawker 4000, two Falcon 7X, two AgustaWestland AW139 helicopters, and two AgustaWestland AW101 helicopters.

By the Presidency’s own admission, Buhari’s promise to sell some of the aircraft in the fleet was aimed at minimizing the cost of governance.

In October 2016, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, assured journalists that some of the presidential jets would be sold in line with Buhari’s directive that aircraft in the PAF be reduced to cut waste

Shehu added that some aircraft in the fleet would also soon be handed over to the Nigerian Air Force for its operations.

He said, “When he campaigned to be President, the then APC candidate Muhammadu Buhari, if you recall, promised to look at the Presidential Air Fleet with a view to cutting down on waste.

“His directive to a government committee on this assignment is that he liked to see a compact and reliable aircraft for the safe airlift of the President, the Vice President and other government officials that go on special missions. This exercise is by no means complete.”

Later in October 2016, the Buhari regime advertised the sale of two of a Falcon 7X executive jet and the Hawker 4000.

However, in March 2018, Shehu told Saturday PUNCH that the bid amounts agreed upon by the two preferred bidders for the two aircraft stood at $24m, which was the projected sales figure.

The presidential spokesman, however, said the unnamed winners of the bids reneged when they were asked to pay. According to him, they came up with a new figure of $11m for the two jets.

Describing the preferred bidders’ attitude as absurd, Shehu said under the Buhari regime, no one would be allowed to “take a public asset and run away (with it) for nothing.”

He added that the Presidency was still determined to sell the jets, which he said were still available for “serious buyers.”

The proposed sale recorded a lull in public attention until September 2020, when the Federal Government announced that the Hawker 4000 aircraft, with registration number 5N-FGX/: RC 066, had again been put up for sale.

But purchase of the business-size jet, which entered into service in December 2011, has yet to be confirmed by the Presidency.

Upkeep of presidential fleet rises by 243% in six years


After taking office on May 29, 2015, the 2016 Appropriation Act signed by Buhari allocated N3.652bn for the upkeep of the presidential fleet. In 2017, the cost of maintenance of the presidential aircraft rose to N4.37bn (19.6 per cent). The figure then skyrocketed to N7.260bn (98.7 per cent) in 2018.

In 2019, the cost of maintaining the PAF again rose to N7.297bn (99.6 per cent). The allocation, however, fell to N6.793bn (86 per cent) in 2020. But in 2021, the budget for the presidential fleet saw its sharpest Buhari-era jump to N12.550bn (243.6 per cent).

By comparison, the 2015 budget, which was in effect upon Buhari’s inauguration, earmarked N5.190bn for the presidential fleet. The appropriation for the PAF in 2021 indicates a 243.6 per cent increase from the allocation six years prior.

Each of the Falcon 7X jets were purchased in 2010 by the Federal Government for $51.1m, while the Gulfstream G550 costs $53.3m, according to a former Minister of Information, the late Prof Dora Akunyili.

Estimates from online listings and airline executives showed the factory prices for the other aircraft in the fleet as follows: Boeing Business Jet – $59m; Hawker 4000 – $22.9m; AgustaWestland AW139 – $12m; and AgustaWestland AW101 – $21m.

This brings the combined estimated value of Nigeria’s PAF to $347.4m (N142.96bn).

APC = All Promises Cancelled

Buhari campaigned he will reduce cost of governance by selling off jets in the presidential fleet. For 8 years he failed to do that.

I read sometimes in April 2024 Tinubu has " Penciled down" 3 Jets to be sold out of the 10 in the presidential fleet because the cost of maintenance between 2016 to 2023 was over 80 billion naira.

But somehow in June 2024 the House of Assembly is recommending they buy new jets for Tinubu & Shetimma( at least 2).

If u still think APC is not God's punishment to Nigerians, u are on a long thing.

Theflint1:
Lagos is a cosmopolitan state with a sizable population of people from different parts of the country. Just like you, I and Ogbeide, we're not indigenous to Lagos, but we can be deemed stakeholders either because it was a place of previous long-term residence, or current residence...we can have a say in who governs this state and will support it with our votes or online support. The strangers that Ogbeide was most likely referring to were those that have zero to no association with Edo State, but even at that, I think they're entitled to having an opinion, after all Edo State is part of Nigeria.

No be everything una supposed dey defend. It is actually hypocrisy on the part of the Ogbeide guy reading those two separate tweets from him.

For starters he has always been a PDP member. He hails from Edo state and currently serves as a commissioner under the PDP government in Edo state. He may have been an Obidient who wanted Obi to be the president of Nigeria for a change, but there's no logical explanation to why he wants GRV to be governor of Lagos.

He neither resides in Lagos, Works in Lagos nor pays tax to the Lagos state government.

Don't get me wrong; He's within his rights as a PDP member serving under a PDP government to support Asue Ighodalo of PDP to win the forthcoming governorship elections. But I also think those questioning his interests in GRV becoming Lagos governor have a solid point to do so.

izzou:
[color=royalblue]A Federal High Court in Kano ruled that Bayero is the Emir, and the state government have insisted that Sanusi is the Emir

I am very pleased with how we have made the judiciary useless. Very beautiful to watch!

What's left is for someone to disobey the Supreme court and then we can have a complete Jungle.
[/color]

Kano State government is even about to demolish Bayero with the palace in disagreement with the court judgement

https://www.nairaland.com/8131148/heavy-security-emir-bayeros-residence

The judiciary have useless themselves and now nobody obeys them anymore

iamoyindamola:
That useless muric leader won't say anything

That MURIC is the most useless rights group in this country; never addressing the critical issues

iamoyindamola:
https://www.nairaland.com/8130780/mob-overpowers-police-kills-yunusa

When will these assholes have sense

These people are worse than barbarians 🤦‍♂️

How can friends gather kill their guy simply because he insult the prophet in the heat of an argument ?

Honestly their religious leaders in the core north have a lot to do in disabusing the minds of those guys .

afrodoc2:
More like man know man aka the old boys' network. The guy is a failed club and youth coach that was rewarded for his failures with the senior national team position.

As in….. The guy looks like a coach that will get out maneuvered by even bottom team coaches in the EPL.

Denmark was playing with an obvious tactic showing they know what they are doing and all England did all day was to just keep throwing anything at them hoping something sticks . No clear pattern.

Their midfield worse pass una donought midfield sef 😂

I don’t envy whatever club or country that will be unfortunate to employ Southgate after he leaves this England job.

The man is a product of Federal character ; nothing wey anybody fit tell me . That’s the only reason he still has this England job sef

Alexander Arnold is the real Ghost St. Patrick

wman:
There is a pattern I noticed from Twitter. Anytime those guys supporting APC from abroad come to Nigeria, they are always shocked about how bad things are and start to slightly reduce their support of the government. They then start to offer more criticisms and advice about the government can make things better.

They can't fathom how bad things are until they come and see for themselves.

For real. Who no go no know.

OkpaNsukkaisBae:
Why e dey pain you Niger is solving their agricultural problem you Western slave. We have always advocated doing business with them on partnership line not master slave relationship. A situation where you wait for Bill Gates and co to give GMO maize seedlings before you solve your agricultural needs is a parasitic relationship. But ignorant and dumb people like you will not understand

U just gallantly score own goal unprovoked. U brought a video showing an African country adopting a model introduced by a westerner just to spite the West?

Who does that?

iamoyindamola:
Leave am shebi na normal thing

Anytime I see our abroadians trivializing the current hardship in this country, I just shake my head. The really don't know how bad things are ; no matter how they claim they do.

iamoyindamola:
Berlin station
Spy/CIA stuff
I think I have given you one of the season but this is all 3 seasons
https://driveseed.org/file/KBPtCY2FRP
https://driveseed.org/file/bzfRqa3XFL
https://driveseed.org/file/e23wOy9K2D

I think I've watched all 3 seasons before; I think u shared the link sef.

CrystalTiger:
This Akpabio sef 😂😂😂😂

I tell u say Nigeria don offend God and na APC be God's punishment to Nigeria

Just look at.....

iamoyindamola:
He can even choke in his own drink

I don tire for the guy; he should just retire to go run a hospital in his home town.

How far, do u have any series either old or new that makes sense?

iamoyindamola:
Tear knee is out of the market as the werey was stretched off yesterday
He couldn't even stay fit to get the fvck out

That guy can get injured doing nothing

izzou:
[color=royalblue]It is oh.

Only the very few can afford turbines. And even at that, they still need diesel, especially if they are handling their distribution.

Diesel mago-mago na serious business oh.

If not that the subsidy on Kerosene was removed, we would have been the highest producer of adulterated diesel in the Universe and Multiverse.[/color]

Well, that's why most companies have outsourced their distribution arm of business. Most of those manufacturing companies have long-stopped carrying their own products na.

LordAdam16:
That argument only applies to personal income tax and related individual contributions.
Our large companies pay the lion share of taxes in Nigeria.
In 2020, PIT and CIT made up 11% and 35% respectively of our tax revenue. In the OECD, the numbers are 24% and 9%.

It is easier to extract tax receipts from and levy penalties on the large companies than on the average Joe.

-Lord

That's becuase there are so many unofficial taxes that the government allows to flow into the hands of non-state actors.

For example, for a normal 18 passenger bus that loads in a park in Lagos, the agbero's collect a cash equivalent of 4 passengers' fare from the driver. This cost will certainly be factored into the eventual fare all passengers pay. If the vehicle is going on an interstate journey, then be rest assured the driver will still have to settle security agents at different checkpoints.

Looking at it on the surface it appears the common man who pays PIT has it easy, but when u look at other unofficial leakages that are tacitly supported by the government, then one would see a clearer picture.

it is NIGERIANs first and foremost who create difficult environments for ethical investors

the government plays a part, but nigerians play their part as well

i saw a promising company that could have become an industry leader die and the oyibo investors pulled out because the CEO looted the company. they brought in one oyibo auditor like that, but they ran rings around the guy. if they had pulled out today not 4 years ago people would have been shouting tinubu when the reality is that the management looted the company until it was not viable

Personally I still think the government is to blame for this. There's nowhere in the world where there's no corruption, it is the institutions in place that helps to checkmate the corrupt practices. If the company nabs a corrupt CEO/Member of senior management and our security agents actually assist in recovering every recoverable, won't it boost the confidence of foreign investors in our justice system ?

one of the reasons for high energy costs is internal fraud. try to deploy a proper system for measuring fuel consumption and you will experience resistance from different arms of the company.

Most multinationals have long moved past buying expensive diesel s source of energy. Most of them have invested in gas turbines to generate electricity. So I don't think employees stealing diesel is the reason they are expending high energy costs. There are so many other costs affecting the business; there's security on the highway, banditry , etc.

izzou:
[color=royalblue]If you want to survive a Nigerian FMCG market, you have to be a Nigerian:

What do i mean?

Terrible work environment
Cut corners
Lobby and pay bribes
Undepay staff
Ati be be lo.

Na why these big names go find am hard to adjust. No matter how they try to reduce their price, they cannot become like us. Na why Asians dey survive here. Quality product, but go and see the work conditions or salary, and you'll understand better.[/color]

I know na, but u will agree with me that there's been a dangerous narrative being peddled around in recent weeks that those leaving simply becuase they can't compete with naija competitors.

What our people fail to understand is that the so-called competition is to our detriment in the first place. How many Nigerian owned business will provide to their staff similar benefits which companies like Shell, Total, etc provide for their staff?

Like u rightly posited, there is a limit to how they can adjust their price. Even the wages they pay their staff, it will take serious bribing of Trade unions for them to pay them below their standard in other parts of the world where they operate. All in all, Nigeria is really investment friendly to an ethical business investor who wants to play things by the rule of the book.

Ballzproblem2:
We dey fight godfatherism for Rivers state this isn't just blind support for fubara na wetin simple minds no fit grasp wether fubara na competent or not wike no smell power for Rivers state, we're good. 😌

Make una take am easy o, make dem no declare state of emergency for Rivers state o

DIAGEO, the United Kingdom-based owner of the iconic Guinness brand became the latest multinational to dilute its shareholding in a major outfit in Nigeria. This again points to the grave failings of the policy environment that have spooked multinational organisations with serious implications for new investments, employment, and the economy at large.

Eyebrows were raised recently when Diageo sold 58.02 per cent of its shareholding to Tolaram, a multinational. Diageo still produces several beverages in Nigeria.

However, some multinationals completely exited Nigeria. Those leaving cited higher operating costs that have eroded profits, inability to access forex, and a harsh regulatory environment as major reasons. Foreign direct investment into Nigeria fell by 26.7 per cent to $3.9 billion in 2023 from $5.3 billion in 2022. Household names like Procter & Gamble, Unilever, Kimberly Clark, GlaxoSmithKline, and Sanofi Aventis have exited fully or converted their business models to import and distribution. Jumia Foods and Bolt Foods are gone.

Microsoft and Meta have downsized their operations. PZ Cussons Plc is considering leaving Africa as a whole, partly due to its Nigeria woes, which have resulted in a 48 per cent drop in sales. The CEO, Jonathan Myers, cited macroeconomic challenges and complexities.


Most worrisome is the departure of Shell, TotalEnergies, ExxonMobil and Equinor. The IOCs are divesting their assets away from Nigeria with investments in other African countries with better business environments. Oil theft, insecurity, and hostile communities are chasing these companies away from a sector that accounts for 95 per cent of Nigeria’s foreign exchange earnings.

TotalEnergies recently announced a commitment of $6 billion to developing the Kaminho oil project offshore Angola after dumping Nigeria as an option. It is investing $600 million in Congo. The company’s boss, Patrick Pouyanne, blamed the decision on Nigeria’s erratic policy environment that has made investments untenable.

The government says these issues will be resolved with the ongoing economic reforms and has acknowledged that the absence of a liquid foreign exchange market is a key factor in the exit of the multinational. Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, is optimistic that things will improve. We do not share such optimism.

Multinationals play a key role in job creation, technology transfer, contribution to the tax pool, CSR programmes, and signalling for foreign investors. These departures have a negative multiplier effect on small and medium-scale companies, which are their suppliers and service providers. Thousands of jobs have disappeared.

It is incongruous that this administration has been busy globetrotting, seeking new investors while the existing ones are fleeing. That the government does not see the urgency of the situation is shocking. The fiscal policy and tax reforms that ought to provide a clear new direction and remove regulatory and tax bottlenecks should have been implemented by now.

Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote revealed that the Federal Government takes 52 per cent tax on every N1 his company earns in profit and that policy inconsistencies could easily lead to business bankruptcy. This sums up a picture of why Nigeria cannot be an investment destination of choice unless these issues are addressed quickly.

For a government that has sold itself as business-friendly, it must prioritise measures that support businesses, such as lowering taxes, streamlining business processes, trade facilitation, and creating a regulatory environment that is not predatory but delivers on enterprise development.

The focus should not be on how much government can extract from businesses. Businesses need to be thriving to recruit and pay employees, meet tax obligations, and undertake CSR. Policies should be clear and consistent.

Security must be improved to support agriculture and the oil and gas sector. The government needs to upgrade existing infrastructure. There is no point committing N15 trillion to the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road when the existing highways are shabby.

Nigeria’s Worrisome Corporate Exodus - Punch Editorial

https://www.nairaland.com/8129052/nigerias-worrisome-corporate-exodus-punch .

I thought the argument has always been that we dont pay enough tax in Nigeria . Here is Dangote alleging he pays 52 per cent tax on every one Naira his company earns. Let’s not forget the multiple taxation we the common men face .

At least we can see that it’s not because the foreign investors cannot compete that’s why they are leaving in droves . I mean ; in what investment friendly country will u be expected to pay 52 per cent tax , forced to provide your own electricity , forced to pay community development levies , face difficulties in repatriating profit in foreign currency, face security threat to ur expats , etc ?

afrodoc2:
That is where he made the mistake. He should have chosen a ju man with extensive civil service history or something like that, not a rugged politician or grassroots soldier.

E get reason why Tinubu choose Fashola and the others to become governor and not some other qualified loyalists.

Love him or hate him, Tinubu sure knows how to select those who would hold forth for him. Fashola, Ambode and Sanwoolu are not known tested and rugged politicians; it’s obvious their selection was strategic .

He saw a lot of people that worked with him and seem more politically grounded but he never mistake of pushing them for the governorship seat.

Wike is making himself a case study for a political science discuss like this . However this matter ends , more theories about politics in naija will be propounded

afrodoc2:
This just shows that Wike is a bad judge of character. So, out of all his proteges this Fubara was the one he chose to succeed him?

He probably chose someone as deadly as he is and never envisaged they will fall out so soon.

Thus far this Fubara Dey match wike ruggedity for ruggedity

Godstime001:
Bros u be ajebo? Cos all these things are like Normal things that happens. You are making it seems as if na Strange stuff.

Not at all.

But I’ve been seeing videos of different non-state actors with guns and ammunitions coming from Rivers state .

Even the Nwanosike guy was even caught in camera making a cultist chant after threatening a sitting governor . Omo! I just Dey surprise say all of these things Dey happen and the police are helpless because the judiciary has made it difficult for them to know what exactly the position of the law is

GloriousGbola:
We can laugh about it, but this is why no oil company is going to put their HQ in the ND. They have done all their risk management and have understood that at the drop of a hat, the whole place can become a war zone.

These fools are messing up Tinubus plans for money from gas with their gragra

These people will literally tell u as a manager in an oil and gas company “ oga dem no Dey sack indigene o” .

The statement is both a fact and a warning . That part of the country is just maintaining a fragile peace .

I just hope this Fubara vs Wike feud won’t leave even the security agencies helpless .

seankafor:
https://Twitter.com/SamuelNwanosike/status/1803005760541958499?t=tXsMzzRcnu1yHi6sbhmlpw&s=19

Ibime

Militancy don return ooo

Omo !

The kind videos I’ve seen coming from Rivers today ehn……..e be like say non-state actors for Rivers plenty pass innocent citizens sef.

What if Wike boys go to re-strategize and come with bigger guns tomorrow ?

Violence slowly brewing in Rivers State

https://www.nairaland.com/8127651/fresh-crisis-rivers-state-militants

Ibime:
Star boy

Saka is the face of England. Know this and know peace

Meanwhile I no dey see Foden as usual

After the game , pharm. hensben will still come here to claim Saka is overrated

I thought I was the only one this thing has happened to .

I went to drink Jedi one Saturday morning like that o and I met some guys there whom we just randomly had general discussion.

I paid for their Jedi and even paid for ponmo and pepper meat for them before I bounce . One of the guys who seem well exposed and educated collected my number before I left and say make we connect and all.

I would normally decline such request politely and refuse to give my number out since I really don’t know him and I don’t like just making random friends ( I never manage the friends I currently have finish set ) . Anyways I gave him my number .

The next day like this ;the guy don use WhatsApp call and messages finish me . He suddenly has business plans and he wants the guy that carry car to come drink Jedi to invest in his plan 💯 % 🤦‍♂️.

Sometimes when u hang out with the wrong people ehn, it will bite u in the ass very quickly .

Itsrm:
No official source for now. The CTC should be out later today or on Monday

This is contrary to what u narrated earlier o baba.
The appeal court is telling the pro-Wike lawmakers to maintain status quo. Abi are they not the appellants ?

As it stands the guy below in pix 2 is Rivers state House of assembly speaker until June 20 2024 when the appeal court gives it final judgement .

Where does that leave the LG chairmen ?

The court held that granting the Appellants’ prayer for stay of execution of the lower court order would amount to determining the appeal at this stage.

The court therefore ordered that the Appellants must maintain the present status quo pending the hearing of the appeal.

iamoyindamola:
https://www.instagram.com/p/C8C9Ew0o_qR/?igsh=MTgxMTJ5NTRzaTBhbQ==

Wtf is this

Something is not right somewhere . If the guy is deaf as claimed , how come his sound matches the beat of the song ? How is he able to listen to the beat and vibe to it ?

At best I want to believe the guy is dumb (i.e he can hear but not speak ) . That’s the only explanation to him vibing so well to the beat.