A media aide to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Paul Ibe, has questioned Nigeria’s presidential air fleet management under President Bola Tinubu.
In a post on his official X account yesterday, Ibe detailed the presidency’s purchase of a used Airbus A330 (5N-FGA) for $100 million in 2024 to replace the aging Boeing 737 (5N-FGT).
He also asked questions about unexplained shifts to a Luxaviation-chartered Boeing 737 (T7-NAS) and the old 737’s recent reregistration to T7-ZMK, suggesting an opaque potential sale.
“Using a chartered aircraft for presential transport has significant implications for national security, integrity, and public perception. Official presidential aircraft are equipped with advanced security and communication features that chartered planes lack, creating potential vulnerabilities for the president and key personnel. Relying on chartered planes could expose sensitive information about the president’s movements, activities, and communications.
“The potential for espionage or interception of critical state data is a significant concern. Unlike the presidential aircraft, the chartered aircraft cannot serve as a mobile command center, ensuring continuity of government in emergency situation. Moreover, an official presidential aircraft symbolizes national pride, sovereignty, and the seriousness of the office. Using a chartered plane can send a negative message to citizens and the international community about the country’s stability and the integrity of the presidency”, he stated.
Ibe questioned: “At what cost is Nigeria chartering this aircraft? No one knows for sure because of the opaque circumstances surrounding the transaction.
Security risks from charters lacking presidential-grade communications and command features are substantiated by aviation experts, while close observers point out that the fleet’s expansion to 11 aircraft underscores transparency gaps, as no official disclosure exists on the T7-ZMK transfer or charter expenses, amplifying calls for accountability from critics like the former governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi.
