N26.38bn Spent on Presidential Aircraft in Just 18 Months

The Federal Government spent approximately N26.38 billion on the Presidential Air Fleet (PAF) during the first 18 months of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, highlighting the rising cost of maintaining executive air travel amid public calls for fiscal discipline.

Data from Govspend, a civic technology platform that tracks government expenditures, show that the funds were disbursed between July 2023 and December 2024 for the operation, maintenance, and logistical support of the fleet. The platform’s records indicate a pattern of high-value disbursements, particularly between April and August 2024.

The first major payment occurred on July 14, 2023, when N846.03 million was released as “presidential air fleet forex transit funds.” Two days later, another N674.82 million followed, bringing July’s total to over N1.5 billion. August saw even larger releases, with N2 billion disbursed on August 16, and earlier that month, N387.6 million and N713.22 million were also paid out. In November 2023, another notable release of N1.26 billion was recorded.

The trend continued into 2024. In March, two separate payments of N1.27 billion each were made, followed in April by the single largest disbursement in the 18-month period—N5.08 billion. Additional large releases were recorded in May, with N2.43 billion and N1.27 billion on May 8 and 11, respectively, and another N1.27 billion on May 25. On August 5 and 6, four separate payments—N1.25 billion, N2.21 billion, N902.9 million, and N1.24 billion—were made, pushing total spending for that month to over N5.6 billion.

Smaller disbursements continued throughout the latter part of 2024, including N160.4 million on August 8, N35 million on September 11, and N133 million on September 29. December saw a series of low-volume payments ranging from N8.7 million to N290 million.

In contrast, former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration allocated N81.80 billion to the presidential fleet between 2016 and 2022. This sum included N62.47 billion for operations and maintenance, N17.29 billion for local and foreign trips, and N2.04 billion for related expenses. Buhari’s presidency maintained 10 aircraft from May 2015.

Experts point to multiple factors behind the escalating costs. Some attribute the rise to the weakening naira, noting that all aviation-related expenses are dollar-denominated. Others highlight the size and diversity of the fleet, which is managed by the Nigerian Air Force and serves the president, vice president, and senior officials.

Frank Oruye, a former Deputy Director of Engineering at Nigerian Airways, explained that the variety of aircraft in the fleet significantly increases costs. With jets from various manufacturers—including Gulfstream, Boeing, Airbus, and French and Canadian models—each aircraft type requires dedicated servicing equipment and technical expertise.

“Before you even consider large aircraft like the Boeing 737 or the newly acquired Airbus A350 under President Tinubu, you are already managing a wide range of aircraft that each require specialised support equipment,” Oruye said. He noted that geopolitical factors also influence fleet composition, as relying on a single country’s aircraft could pose diplomatic risks.

He added that even attempts to localise maintenance face logistical barriers. “You will still need to import most of the equipment. That is the reality of being a consumer nation with limited manufacturing capacity,” he said.

Retired military officer and aviation analyst Group Capt. John Ojukutu criticised the size of the fleet, calling for a drastic reduction. He argued that the presidency does not require more than four aircraft, suggesting that two additional planes could be allocated to the National Assembly.

“How many people are actually using these aircraft, and where are they going? Are they assigning one aircraft to each official in the presidency?” he asked. Ojukutu recalled that Buhari once proposed reducing the fleet from 10 to three aircraft—an idea he believes is still relevant.

He also questioned whether routine heavy maintenance like C-checks is being carried out unnecessarily. “These planes are not flying like commercial jets. Are all these aircraft truly due for C-checks every year?” he asked.

Despite its strategic importance, the cost of operating the Presidential Air Fleet remains a subject of public debate, especially as Nigeria grapples with fiscal constraints and rising debt obligations.