Presidency confirms purchase of new presidential jet

The Presidency has officially confirmed the procurement of a new Airbus A330, which will replace the 19-year-old Boeing B737-700 (BBJ) previously used for presidential travel.

The aging Boeing aircraft was initially acquired during former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration.

This confirmation was made by Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President Bola Tinubu, through a post on his official X (formerly Twitter) account on Monday.

Onanuga announced that President Tinubu departed Abuja for Paris, France, aboard the newly acquired Airbus A330 on Monday. He also mentioned that the aircraft was purchased at a price significantly lower than its market value.

The introduction of the new jet is expected to save Nigeria millions of dollars annually by reducing maintenance and fuel costs, making it a more sustainable and economical choice for presidential travel.

“President Tinubu departed Abuja Monday for Paris, France, using the new Airbus A330, which replaced the 19-year-old Boeing B737-700 (BBJ) acquired under former President Olusegun Obasanjo. The new plane, purchased far below market price, will save Nigeria significant amounts in maintenance and fuel costs, amounting to millions of dollars annually,” Onanuga’s post stated.

Onanuga further explained that the decision to replace the aging Boeing B737-700 (BBJ) was influenced by safety and cost concerns highlighted during an investigative hearing conducted by Nigeria’s parliament.

The hearing raised serious concerns regarding the safety and efficiency of the older aircraft, especially after it malfunctioned during a critical trip to Saudi Arabia.

In response to these concerns, the Nigerian Senate’s security and intelligence committee strongly recommended the replacement of the outdated jet. The aim was to reduce downtime and operational costs, which had become increasingly burdensome due to the frequent maintenance required by the aging aircraft.

The newly acquired Airbus A330 is described as a spacious jet with state-of-the-art avionics, a customized interior, and an advanced communications system, offering a modern, reliable, and efficient option for presidential travel.

“The recommendation to replace the B737-700 (BBJ) came after an investigative hearing by Nigeria’s parliament, which questioned the aircraft’s safety and cost efficiency, particularly after it experienced a malfunction during a trip to Saudi Arabia.

The Nigerian Senate’s security and intelligence committee recommended replacing the aging jet in the presidential fleet to minimize downtime and operational expenses.

The new aircraft is spacious, equipped with advanced avionics, a customized interior, and a modern communications system,” the post concluded.