COULD BUHARI HAVE SPENT 5.8 BILLION NAIRA ON PRESIDENTIAL JETS IN SIX MONTHS?

The administration of President Muhammadu Buhari has spent about N5.8 bn on the 10 jets in the presidential fleet, the Punch newspaper is reporting.

The Punch stated that it arrived at the amount from data obtained from aviation parastatals as well as domestic airline operators in the country. The newspaper said Buhari would have spent about $58.58m (11.598bn) on running and maintaining the aircraft by the time his government becomes a year old.

This means that half of this amount, $29.29m (N5.799bn), is expected to have been spent in principle on the large fleet when the administration turns six months in office by November 29.

The paper stated that the presidential fleet 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, one Gulfstream V, Cessna Citation 2 and Hawker Siddley 125-800 jet, worth a total price of $390.5m (N77.319bn).

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 newspaper, the main aircraft 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,” the paper stated.

Source: The Punch