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
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.
