₦airaland Forum

NOETHNICITY:
The deal for the purchase of the aircraft

NOETHNICITY:
Was the contract not done and dusted by OBJ

CyrusVI:
Irrelevant comparison from an irrlevant group

Since when did we start comparing every single act of our Govt to that of the U.S

Even in cases where our FG fared better, negativists would still call it propaganda

Nigeria is a sovereign Nation for godsake

REVEALED: US President still using 34-year-Old plane but Nigeria abandoned 19-year-old aircraft

After weeks of silence, the Presidency unveiled the newly purchased Airbus A330, on Monday.

Discussion about a new Presidential jet began after the problems encountered by the Boeing Business Jet (BBJ) acquired under former President Olusegun Obasanjo 19 years ago developed fault on separate trips to Saudi Arabia, The Netherlands and South Africa.

President Bola Tinubu had to make use of chartered jet, a development the presidency described as embarrassing.

As government officials argued for a new aircraft, the masses pushed back, saying that was not the priority given the widespread economic hardship and other problems confronting Nigeria. All attempts to convince Nigerians literarily fell on deaf ears and the presidency went into silence on the issue.

However, in June, an online news platform reported that the Nigerian government had acquired the Airbus A330 from a German bank. The bank had reportedly seized the aircraft from an unnamed Arabian prince who defaulted on a substantial debt.

The Presidency did not issue an official statement, leaving the public in the dark about the purchase. It was during the controversial Chinese firm saga that Nigerians got a hint that the new aircraft had actually been purchased. Yet the Presidency maintained silence until Monday when Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser To The President of Information and Strategy, released pictures with a 4-paragraph statement.

Onanuga, who did not disclose the cost of the jet, said, “The new plane, bought far below the market price, saves Nigeria huge maintenance and fuel costs, running into millions of dollars yearly.”

The presidential spokesman justified the purchase of the new presidential jet on the grounds of the age of the BBJ purchased under Obasanjo.

However, experts say the age of an aircraft does not matter as long as the maintenance programme is adhered to.

Checks by Daily Trust indicates that the Boeing 747 (the Air Force One) used by the US President, the most powerful President in the world, is 34-year old and it has served no fewer than six Presidents, including the incumbent Joseph Biden.

Other Presidents the jet had served were George H W Bush (1989-1993), Bill Clinton (1993-2001), George W Bush (2001-2008), Barack Obama (2008-2016) and Donald J Trump (2016-2020).

In the case of Nigeria, apart from Obasanjo who used the aircraft for a few years before the expiration of his tenure, the plane had served four Nigerian leaders, including late Umar Yar’Adua (for barely two years); former President Goodluck Jonathan and immediate past President Muhammadu Buhari.

Age of aircraft doesn’t matter – Expert

An aviation expert who spoke with our correspondent on the condition of anonymity insisted that the age of an aircraft does not matter as long as the maintenance schedule is strictly adhered to,

He said, “They said this one has been operating for 19 years despite the fact that US Air Force One has been operating more than that but it has been undergoing upgrade, upgrade and renovation. I hope we would have the maintenance culture to maintain the airplane because Airbus A330 is a complex airplane. I hope we would have the manpower to maintain the aircraft and keep the parts going.”

The expert who is a Captain added, “You know my stance, age doesn’t matter if the airplane is maintained according to its maintenance schedule and spare parts are provided as when due. I don’t see any problem with the age at all.”

‘Boeing more reliable than Airbus’

Another expert, who spoke anonymously, added: “Basically Boeing aircraft are more reliable and rugged than the Airbus aircraft. I believe Boeing are better and are in existence than Airbus. Also Boeing aircraft is for all weather unlike Airbus aircraft.”

‘Airplane a Nigerian property’

Weighing in on the conversation, yet another expert said, It is not a bad thing to have a new aircraft since it is not a personal property of the President.

“It is a Nigerian property. It is a good thing to have a bigger airplane but is it the right time to have it, you can ask the politicians, even if things are hard, you ask the politicians.”

Inside the new jet

The multi-engine prestige jet, which has an elaborate VIP configuration, is 15 years old. The aircraft, which now has registration number, 5N-FGA, was manufactured in September 2009 and delivered in Novem­ber 2009 with the registration number, VP-CAC, to Midroc Aviation, based in Jeddah, King Abdulaziz International, Saudi Arabia. ­

It was with the con­figuration, VIP; engines, 2xRR and HEX CODE, 4241AC.

The Saudi Arabian aviation company operated the aircraft for 12 years before it was ac­quired by AMAC Aerospace in April 2021. AMAC Aerospace is a Switzer­land based company, which oper­ated the aircraft for three years before it was acquired by the Ni­gerian government and upgraded to the current status.

The deal was reportedly brokered byL & L International LLC, an American aviation firm based in Miami, Florida, which saw Nigeria purchase the aircraft for over $100 million.

blacknp:
Corrupted scrupulous Things will look for who to blame, it is because your brothers & sisters at Federal level are corrupt, hence you at state is the same.

You cannot run away from yourself in the country of the fantastically corrupt.

blacknp:
Typical Hypocrite disgruntled disillusioned Obidient, as usual crying more than the bereaved.

blacknp:
Shameless Lazy Thing, na Bola Tinubu be your Papa that year when you dey wail under President Buhari abi?

Na because of President Tinubu you no get anything abi? they deceive yourself, you go suffer well well in your hypocrisy for that zoo.

The report that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has set an open-ended time that the Port Harcourt Refining Company Limited will produce refined petroleum for local consumption has dampened the excitement among Nigerians that this year the scarcity of petrol would end. The report countered the hope that, after five missed timelines, petrol would flow from the refinery to dispensing stations across Nigeria before the end of this month. Now that we have entered into the last weeks of August, the company has said ambiguously that the process of producing petrol from the refinery was ‘on course.’

The Port Harcourt refinery has the capacity to refine 210,000 barrels of crude oil per day.

Such position demonstrates how the Ministry of Petroleum Resources and the NNPCL have been taking Nigerians for a ride by regularly extending the goal post for the renovation and revival of the government-owned refineries. Though, Nigerians have viewed with curiosity the fact that the country’s four refineries in Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna have all failed to refine crude oil at the same time since 2019, they had condoned the regular pledges by the public and civil servants in the sector that the country would begin to produce refined products in recent years.

For instance, in 2017, Emmanuel Ibe Ukachukwu, then Minister of Petroleum Resources under President Muhammadu Buhari, vowed to resign if Nigeria did not begin to refine crude oil by 2019, and export refined products by 2020. This did not happen. Instead, all the nation’s four refineries were shut down in 2019 because they did not have the capacity to refine products, though without fail the country paid huge sums for their annual Turn-Around Maintenance (TAM).

That same year, the federal government approved $1.5 billion for the repairs of the Port Harcourt Refinery, and the contract was awarded to an Italian firm, Maire Tecnimont. At the time, the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Timipreye Sylva, had said specifically that “Our objective is… to ensure that in the next few years, Nigeria stops fuel importation. From what we have seen here… Port Harcourt Refinery will come on board by the end of the year (2019). The first phase is to be completed in 18 months, which will take the refinery to a production of 90 per cent of its nameplate capacity… the second phase would be completed in 24 months and the third in 44 months.”

With such huge funding, hopes were raised that products would flow from the Port Harcourt Refinery before the end of the Buhari administration. The NNPCL Group Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari, for instance, told Nigerians that by the first quarter of 2023, the refinery would produce petrol. It did not happen. He later promised that petrol would be produced in the second quarter. That promise was not realised.

In August last year, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, said the Port Harcourt Refinery would recommence operations in December. He made the promise during an inspection tour of the rehabilitation work at the plant. Based on that, he promised that Nigeria would stop petrol imports in February 2024.

As the December 2023 deadline failed, and Nigerians expected that in the early part of this year, NNPC Ltd would make good its promise. It did not happen. But while speaking before the Senate in July this year, Kyari said: “I can confirm to you, Mr. Chairman, that by the end of the year, this country will be a net exporter of petroleum products. Specific to NNPC refineries, we have spoken to a number of your committees, and it is impossible to have the Kaduna Refinery come into operation before December; it will get to December, both Warri and Kaduna, but that of Port Harcourt will commence production early August this year.”

From the foregoing, it is apparent that either the NNPC Ltd has failed to keep the contractors on their toes to keep to the timelines set for the completion of the Port Harcourt Refinery or that those who benefit from the shameful importation of petroleum products into Nigeria want to continue to extend the regime. But this is totally unacceptable to Nigerians who are at the receiving end of the chaotic and hide-and-seek activities in the midstream and downstream sector of the nation’s oil and gas sector. The high cost of the pump price of petroleum products and the frequent scarcity have both financial and economic consequences for the people. No other oil-producing country in the world faces this embarrassment. And yet, the federal government is reluctant to whip anyone into line.

The managers of the Nigerian oil and gas sector must stop taking Nigerians for a ride. It is obvious that the truth about the high cost of refined products, collapse of our refineries, fuel importation, non-repair of the refineries, and oil theft is still being concealed by those who are bent on making life extremely difficult for Nigerians. We hold both the Minister of Petroleum, Lokpobiri and NNPC Limited’s GCEO Kyari, to their promises that locally-produced petrol will be sold in August 2024. This is August 2024. There should be no further extension of the delivery date.

blacknp:
Yoruba done show you pepper again, Oga na Master.

Try again in 2027.

blacknp:
The hypocrisy of a disgruntled election Loser.

helinues:
There is a big difference between patriots and parrots

Take note

helinues:
Na different ways to receive senses

jamafa:
So shall it be for you and your family

jamafa:
Because your candidate lost election, u con dey pass aggression. It shows you lack manner.

Ur candidate will still lose in 2027

wediehere1:
Peter Peter Obi will never never become president of this country
I will vote for stone before him

blacknp:
Roberto Carlos you dey vex say person wan take your colo position?

"The people of Edo State have made up their minds. They have decided. We have decided. Our votes are for Asue Ighodalo of the PDP. We don't have anything in common with APC in Edo State just as light has nothing in common with darkness. APC represents darkness, so we don't want them in Edo State. We have chosen the light, hence we chose Asue Ighodalo as the person we will vote for, come September 21, 2024.

Wickedfact:
Otti who has owed 3 months salary out of the 12 months he's been in office is the one you are calling the best Governor. Why are you people so dishonest like this?

The problem with you guys is that you have never been fortunate to experience good governance in your entire lives. So, an ordinary Julius Berger signboard, 2 gutters and 18k salary is enough to impress you.

Richtaiwo:
On the texts in bold, go to the second comment on this thread, I have already said it. For APC and LP banter, check the last 3 words of the member I quoted. Lastly, care to explain how Allex Otti is obviously the best?

Richtaiwo:
Obinna, read before typing. Before the fed govt approved the 70k minimum wage, no civil servant in lagos payroll got less than 70k from the govt every month. I'm 100% sure you don't have the weakest idea behind the outburst of NLC. Please prove me wrong.

While at that, you may tell us how much Abia state of "non-lying" Elu P has been paying as minimum wage before and after the fed govt approval of 70k.

Ikaeniyan0:
Make this clown rest jawe