Read how FG spends N5.8bn on presidential jets in six months
Oyetunji Abioye
The Federal Government may have spent
about N5.8bn on the 10-aircraft Presidential
Air Fleet it inherited from the former President
Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, findings
by Saturday PUNCH have shown.
The PAF is the third largest fleet in the
country, coming after Arik Air and
Aerocontractors Airlines which have 23 and
12 aircraft in their fleets respectively.
Other domestic airlines including FirstNation,
MedView Airlines, Dana Air, Air Peace and
Overland Airways have less than 10 aircraft
each in their fleets.
According to calculations done from
estimated data obtained from aviation
parastatals and domestic airline operators in
the country, President Muhammadu Buhari’s
administration will have spent about $58.58m
(N11.598bn) on running and maintaining the
10-aicraft presidential fleet by May 29 next
year when it turns one year in office.
This means that the half of this amount,
$29.29m (N5.799bn), is expected to have
been spent in principle on the large fleet when
administration turns six months in office by
November 29.
According to findings, the PAF contains two
Falcon 7X jets, two Falcon 900 jets, one
Gulfstream 550, one Boeing 737 BBJ
(Nigerian Air Force 001 or Eagle One), and
Gulfstream IVSP.
Others are one Gulfstream V, Cessna Citation
2 and Hawker Siddley 125-800 jet.
Each of the two Falcon 7X jets were
purchased in 2010 by the Federal Government
for $51.1m, while the Gulfstream 550 costs
$53.3m, a former Minister of Information, the
late Professor, Dora Akunyili, had said.
The factory price of other aircraft in the fleet
could not be obtained online. However, airline
CEOs put the average price of Falcon 900 at
$35m, Gulfstream IVSP at $40m, Gulfstream
V at $45m, Boeing 737-800 (Boeing Business
Jet) at $58m, Cessna Citation at $7m and
Hawker Siddley 125-800 at $15m.
This brings a combined estimated value of
Nigeria’s PAF to $390.5m (N77.319bn).
According to airline chief executives and
industry experts, airlines spend between 15
and 20 per cent of the cost of an aircraft on
its operation yearly. They say that averagely,
a little less than one-fifth of the cost of the
plane is spent every year on insurance, flight
and cabin crew, maintenance, fuelling,
catering and training.
Using the least figure of 15 per cent, it means
that about $58.58m (N11.598bn) will be
spent on the presidential fleet (which is valued
at $390.5m or N77.319bn) when the new
administration turns one year by May 29 next
year.
Apparently, by November 29 when it turns six
months in office, about half of this amount
($29.29m or N5.799bn) should have been
budgeted for the running and maintenance of
the planes.
According to the Nigerian Air Force’s website,
the PAF’s current staff strength consists of 47
NAF officers, 173 airmen/airwomen and 96
technical and administrative civilians.
“The operational headquarters of the fleet is
located at the presidential wing of the Nnamdi
Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, while the
administrative personnel are at the federal
secretariat. The fleet has a liaison office at
the Presidential Villa. Flight operations,
training, aircraft maintenance and general
running of the fleet are funded by the
Presidency,” according to the website.
Nigeria happens to be one of few countries of
the world with a large PAF.
Most major countries in Europe and Asia
maintain two aircraft in their PAF, according
to Wikipedia .
According to the online portal, Japan
maintains only two Boeing 747-400 planes in
its PAF.
The two aircraft, mostly for the prime minister,
the emperor and his wife, and other members
of the Imperial Family, is operated by the
Japan Air Self-Defence Force.
The aircraft were constructed at the Boeing
factory at the same time as the United States’
Air Force One. Both Japanese aircraft were
delivered in 1990.
Wikipedia also states that the Netherlands
government operates only two aircraft, a
Fokker 70 and Gulfstream IV to transport the
Dutch Royal family and government officials
such as the Prime Minister and other
ministers.
They are also used for international
conferences and for private trips by the Queen
and the Prince of Orange. For long haul trips,
the Royal Dutch Airline is used. Often the
upper deck of a Boeing 747 is used.
The Queen of England and the Prime Minister,
David Cameron, often go on British Airways
chartered flights for long trips. Cameron was
recently criticised by the United Kingdom
media for chartering a foreign plane instead
of a British.
According to Wikipedia, the Royal Squadron of
the Royal Air Force maintains a fleet of
Agusta A109 helicopters, BAE-125 mid-sized
business jet and BAE-146 regional airliner to
support short travel by the Royal Family, the
Prime Minister and senior members of the
British Government.
Countries like Ghana, Algeria and a host of
others in Europe maintain only one aircraft in
their PAF.
A few weeks after his inauguration, Buhari
had reportedly ordered the immediate disposal
of some of the planes in the PAF.
However, the Senior Special Assistant to the
President on Media and Publicity, Garba
Shehu, later denied knowledge of such
directive.
“The story of the order for the sale of aircraft
in the Presidential Fleet, about which so much
interest is being expressed, is not known to
us,” Shehu said.
The exact size of the PAF is treated as
classified information and aviation sources
believe the aircraft in the fleet is about 16.
Chief of the planes in the fleet 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 $100m to replace.
Eagle One can spend 12 hours in the air,
covering 11,489 kilomtres or 6,200 nautical
miles.
Apart from the Eagle One, the fleet boasts of
Gulfstream 550 jet. 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.
There are reports that Buhari may also order
the sale of about 25 aircraft owned by
ministries, departments and agencies.
These include Nigeria Customs Service, which
has four aircraft namely two Bell helicopters,
one Dornier 228 and one Cessna Citation
private jet; the Nigerian Police Force, which
has 10 helicopters and one Cessna Sovereign
private jet; and the Nigeria Immigration
Service, which has six aircraft that are being
used for border patrol.
Others are the National Emergency
Management Agency, which has four
helicopters and one Cessna Encorprivate jet;
the Ministry of Aviation, which has a Hawker
Siddley calibration jet that is not being used;
and the defunct Power Holding Company of
Nigeria which has six German-made
helicopters that are no longer serviceable.
Aviation experts said there was need for
Buhari to reduce the size of the PAF.
The General Secretary, Aviation Round Table,
an industry pressure group, Group Captain
John Ojikutu, said Buhari needed to reduce
the PAF and sell aircraft belonging to most of
the MDAs.
A former Assistant General Secretary, Airline
Operators of Nigeria, Mr. Muhammed Tukur,
also said the aircraft could be sold to both
airline operators and private individuals who
could use them for commercial purposes.
He said that this could generate more revenue
and create jobs.
Source punch.
Oyetunji Abioye
The Federal Government may have spent
about N5.8bn on the 10-aircraft Presidential
Air Fleet it inherited from the former President
Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, findings
by Saturday PUNCH have shown.
The PAF is the third largest fleet in the
country, coming after Arik Air and
Aerocontractors Airlines which have 23 and
12 aircraft in their fleets respectively.
Other domestic airlines including FirstNation,
MedView Airlines, Dana Air, Air Peace and
Overland Airways have less than 10 aircraft
each in their fleets.
According to calculations done from
estimated data obtained from aviation
parastatals and domestic airline operators in
the country, President Muhammadu Buhari’s
administration will have spent about $58.58m
(N11.598bn) on running and maintaining the
10-aicraft presidential fleet by May 29 next
year when it turns one year in office.
This means that the half of this amount,
$29.29m (N5.799bn), is expected to have
been spent in principle on the large fleet when
administration turns six months in office by
November 29.
According to findings, the PAF contains two
Falcon 7X jets, two Falcon 900 jets, one
Gulfstream 550, one Boeing 737 BBJ
(Nigerian Air Force 001 or Eagle One), and
Gulfstream IVSP.
Others are one Gulfstream V, Cessna Citation
2 and Hawker Siddley 125-800 jet.
Each of the two Falcon 7X jets were
purchased in 2010 by the Federal Government
for $51.1m, while the Gulfstream 550 costs
$53.3m, a former Minister of Information, the
late Professor, Dora Akunyili, had said.
The factory price of other aircraft in the fleet
could not be obtained online. However, airline
CEOs put the average price of Falcon 900 at
$35m, Gulfstream IVSP at $40m, Gulfstream
V at $45m, Boeing 737-800 (Boeing Business
Jet) at $58m, Cessna Citation at $7m and
Hawker Siddley 125-800 at $15m.
This brings a combined estimated value of
Nigeria’s PAF to $390.5m (N77.319bn).
According to airline chief executives and
industry experts, airlines spend between 15
and 20 per cent of the cost of an aircraft on
its operation yearly. They say that averagely,
a little less than one-fifth of the cost of the
plane is spent every year on insurance, flight
and cabin crew, maintenance, fuelling,
catering and training.
Using the least figure of 15 per cent, it means
that about $58.58m (N11.598bn) will be
spent on the presidential fleet (which is valued
at $390.5m or N77.319bn) when the new
administration turns one year by May 29 next
year.
Apparently, by November 29 when it turns six
months in office, about half of this amount
($29.29m or N5.799bn) should have been
budgeted for the running and maintenance of
the planes.
According to the Nigerian Air Force’s website,
the PAF’s current staff strength consists of 47
NAF officers, 173 airmen/airwomen and 96
technical and administrative civilians.
“The operational headquarters of the fleet is
located at the presidential wing of the Nnamdi
Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, while the
administrative personnel are at the federal
secretariat. The fleet has a liaison office at
the Presidential Villa. Flight operations,
training, aircraft maintenance and general
running of the fleet are funded by the
Presidency,” according to the website.
Nigeria happens to be one of few countries of
the world with a large PAF.
Most major countries in Europe and Asia
maintain two aircraft in their PAF, according
to Wikipedia .
According to the online portal, Japan
maintains only two Boeing 747-400 planes in
its PAF.
The two aircraft, mostly for the prime minister,
the emperor and his wife, and other members
of the Imperial Family, is operated by the
Japan Air Self-Defence Force.
The aircraft were constructed at the Boeing
factory at the same time as the United States’
Air Force One. Both Japanese aircraft were
delivered in 1990.
Wikipedia also states that the Netherlands
government operates only two aircraft, a
Fokker 70 and Gulfstream IV to transport the
Dutch Royal family and government officials
such as the Prime Minister and other
ministers.
They are also used for international
conferences and for private trips by the Queen
and the Prince of Orange. For long haul trips,
the Royal Dutch Airline is used. Often the
upper deck of a Boeing 747 is used.
The Queen of England and the Prime Minister,
David Cameron, often go on British Airways
chartered flights for long trips. Cameron was
recently criticised by the United Kingdom
media for chartering a foreign plane instead
of a British.
According to Wikipedia, the Royal Squadron of
the Royal Air Force maintains a fleet of
Agusta A109 helicopters, BAE-125 mid-sized
business jet and BAE-146 regional airliner to
support short travel by the Royal Family, the
Prime Minister and senior members of the
British Government.
Countries like Ghana, Algeria and a host of
others in Europe maintain only one aircraft in
their PAF.
A few weeks after his inauguration, Buhari
had reportedly ordered the immediate disposal
of some of the planes in the PAF.
However, the Senior Special Assistant to the
President on Media and Publicity, Garba
Shehu, later denied knowledge of such
directive.
“The story of the order for the sale of aircraft
in the Presidential Fleet, about which so much
interest is being expressed, is not known to
us,” Shehu said.
The exact size of the PAF is treated as
classified information and aviation sources
believe the aircraft in the fleet is about 16.
Chief of the planes in the fleet 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 $100m to replace.
Eagle One can spend 12 hours in the air,
covering 11,489 kilomtres or 6,200 nautical
miles.
Apart from the Eagle One, the fleet boasts of
Gulfstream 550 jet. 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.
There are reports that Buhari may also order
the sale of about 25 aircraft owned by
ministries, departments and agencies.
These include Nigeria Customs Service, which
has four aircraft namely two Bell helicopters,
one Dornier 228 and one Cessna Citation
private jet; the Nigerian Police Force, which
has 10 helicopters and one Cessna Sovereign
private jet; and the Nigeria Immigration
Service, which has six aircraft that are being
used for border patrol.
Others are the National Emergency
Management Agency, which has four
helicopters and one Cessna Encorprivate jet;
the Ministry of Aviation, which has a Hawker
Siddley calibration jet that is not being used;
and the defunct Power Holding Company of
Nigeria which has six German-made
helicopters that are no longer serviceable.
Aviation experts said there was need for
Buhari to reduce the size of the PAF.
The General Secretary, Aviation Round Table,
an industry pressure group, Group Captain
John Ojikutu, said Buhari needed to reduce
the PAF and sell aircraft belonging to most of
the MDAs.
A former Assistant General Secretary, Airline
Operators of Nigeria, Mr. Muhammed Tukur,
also said the aircraft could be sold to both
airline operators and private individuals who
could use them for commercial purposes.
He said that this could generate more revenue
and create jobs.
Source punch.
Comments