The Federal Government is alleged to have spent an astonishing N214 billion on the Presidential Air Fleet from 1999 to the present.
The ongoing plans to purchase two additional aircraft for the PAF have sparked varied reactions.
According to document obtained by Vanguard, this sum, which reflects cumulative budgetary allocations and expenditures since the start of the Fourth Republic.
The expenditures span the administrations of President Olusegun Obasanjo, 1999 – 2007, President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, 2007 – 2009, President Goodluck Jonathan, 2009 – 2015, President Muhammadu Buhari, 2015 – 2023, and the current administration of President Bola Tinubu.
Critics argue that this figure brings the government’s priorities into question, especially considering the urgent needs in education, healthcare, and infrastructure.
The N214 billion spent on PAF represents a significant portion of the Federal Government’s budget, prompting many Nigerians to call for a review of the fleet’s operations and maintenance costs.
With Nigeria grappling with economic challenges and struggling to fund key sectors, the emphasis on maintaining the fleet has raised concerns.
Recently, the House of Representatives Committee on National Security and Intelligence approved the purchase of two new aircraft, citing the dysfunctionality of the President’s 19-year-old Boeing 737 and other fleet aircraft. Each plane is estimated to cost over $623.4 million, approximately N918.7 billion.
The PAF, managed by the Office of the National Security Adviser includes 10 aircraft: Boeing Business Jet 737, Gulfstream G550, Gulfstream G500, two Falcon 7X HS 4000, two Agusta 139, and two Agusta 101. These aircraft transport the President, Vice President, principal officers of the National Assembly, and other top government officials.
Although the fleet symbolizes national pride and prestige, critics contend that its maintenance costs are exorbitant and that funds could be better allocated to urgent national needs.
Over the years, the fleet has undergone multiple upgrades and expansions, with each administration adding new aircraft.
Budget allocations have fluctuated. Under Tinubu, N20.5 billion was earmarked for PAF in the 2024 budget, while N12.7 billion and N13 billion were allocated in the 2023 supplementary and main budgets, respectively. Within 11 months, the administration disbursed N14.77 billion for presidential aircraft repairs and maintenance, processed through the State House headquarters transit account, labeled ‘Presidential Air Fleet Transit Funds’.
The Buhari administration spent N69.06 billion on fleet operations and maintenance over eight years.
During his first term, N20.42 billion was allocated, which doubled to N41 billion in his second term. For instance, N3.65 billion was allocated in 2016, with subsequent increases in 2017, 2018, and 2019, reaching N4.37 billion, N7.26 billion, and N7.30 billion, respectively. A slight drop to N6.79 billion occurred in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Following the pandemic, allocations surged to N12.55 billion and N12.48 billion for the 2021 and 2022 budgets, respectively.
Similarly, Jonathan’s administration spent N42.18 billion on PAF from 2011 to 2015, with allocations of N17.98 billion in 2011, N3.54 billion in 2012, N7.5 billion in 2013, N7.97 billion in 2014, and N5.19 billion in 2015. Budgetary allocations for the presidential fleet from 2011 to 2024 totaled N144.44 billion.
While exact records for Obasanjo and Yar’Adua’s tenures, 1999 to 2000, are unavailable, sources estimate an average of N7 billion per year, totaling approximately N70 billion over 10 years.
This puts estimated allocations to PAF since 1999 at around N214 billion.
The breakdown of budgetary allocations from 2011 to 2024 is as follows:
2011: N17.98 billion
2012: N3.54 billion
2013: N7.5 billion
2014: N7.97 billion
2015: N5.19 billion
2016: N3.6 billion
2017: N4.37 billion
2018: N7.26 billion
2019: N7.297 billion
2020: N8.51 billion
2021: N12.55 billion
2022: N12.48 billion
2023: N25.7 billion
2024: N20.5 billion
As the country progresses, it remains to be seen whether the government will reconsider its spending priorities and allocate more resources to pressing national needs.
