Newly Acquired Presidential Jet is Actually 15 Years Old and Nigeria is its 3rd Owner

The recent acquisition of a 15-year-old Airbus A330-200 by the Nigerian government has sparked considerable debate and controversy.

This aircraft, now registered as 5N-FGA, was manufactured in September 2009 and initially delivered to Midroc Aviation in Saudi Arabia. It served there for 12 years before being acquired by AMAC Aerospace, a Swiss company, in April 2021.

Nigeria is the third user of this jet, which features an elaborate VIP configuration including a bedroom, office space, conference room, and dining area.

The purchase, reportedly brokered by L & L International LLC, cost Nigeria over $100 million. Despite the high price tag, Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, emphasized that the new plane was bought "far below the market price" and would save Nigeria millions of dollars annually in maintenance and fuel costs.

However, the timing of this acquisition has been met with public outrage, given Nigeria's current economic challenges.

Critics argue that the funds could have been better allocated to address pressing issues such as widespread economic hardship. The controversy is further fueled by the opaque procurement process and questions about whether due legislative approval was obtained.

The new jet replaces the 19-year-old Boeing BBJ 737-700, which had become increasingly costly to maintain. Despite arguments from aviation experts that the age of an aircraft does not matter if it is well-maintained, the Nigerian government decided to upgrade its fleet.

This decision comes at a time when the U.S. President continues to use a 34-year-old Boeing 747-200B, known as Air Force One, which has served six presidents, including the incumbent Joseph Biden.

Nigeria's Presidential Air Fleet, one of the largest in Africa, includes various aircraft such as a Gulfstream G500, two Falcon 7Xs, a Hawker 4000, and a Challenger 605.

Despite efforts to reduce the fleet size, the operational costs have risen massively, with maintenance expenses ranging from $1.5 million to $4.5 million annually per aircraft.