News
Presidential Fleet Reduction: FG Puts Three Jets Up For Sale
The Federal Government plans to sell three ageing jets from the presidential fleet to cut maintenance costs, contracting JetHQ to manage the sale.
EKO HOT BLOG reports that the Federal Government has announced plans to sell three ageing jets from the presidential air fleet to reduce high maintenance costs.
This decision follows recommendations from both the House of Representatives and the Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence, which advocated for the procurement of new aircraft for the President and Vice-President.
EDITOR’S PICK
- NiMet Forecasts Weekly Thunderstorms: Check Affected Areas
- FG Initiates Verification of Private Jet Imports, Summons 80 Operators To Abuja
- Fubara Directs HLGAs To Lead 23 Council Areas After Tenure Expiration
The jets up for sale include a Boeing 737 Boeing Business Jet (BBJ), the President’s designated aircraft, a Gulfstream, and a Falcon 7x. This move will effectively halve the presidential fleet, currently comprising six airplanes and four helicopters.
The fleet has been under scrutiny, with insiders noting that at least half of the aircraft are unserviceable or failing. To facilitate the sale, the government has contracted JetHQ, a prominent US-based airline marketer, to value and market the planes. Preliminary offers are already under review to secure the best deals for the public treasury.
This move comes as legislators push for modernizing the fleet following several incidents involving the current fleet’s aircraft, which raised safety concerns.
These incidents have sparked a debate on the necessity and timing of purchasing new aircraft, given the nation’s economic challenges.
Jets Up For Sale
While some lawmakers stress the importance of safety for national leaders, others argue that the timing may reflect insensitivity to broader economic hardships faced by the populace.
Proceeds from the sale are expected to fund the purchase of at least one new jet, with officials stating that buying two new aircraft simultaneously is financially untenable.
FURTHER READING
- Akpabio Addresses 2027 Presidential Ambitions With El-Rufai Amid Posters
- June 12: Sail Away From The Turbulent Waters Of Protests – DSS Warns Nigerians
- Court Gives Date to Rule on LP’s Candidacy Tussle
“Yes, we have received two offers for the BBJ and one for the Falcon X. But the NSA insisted that we must press for a better deal instead of rushing to have a bad deal for the government,” an PAF official involved with the process said on condition of anonymity.
Click below to watch our video of the week:
Advertise or Publish a Story on EkoHot Blog:
Kindly contact us at [email protected]. Breaking stories should be sent to the above email and substantiated with pictorial evidence.
Citizen journalists will receive a token as data incentive.
Call or Whatsapp: 0803 561 7233, 0703 414 5611
