Peter Obi Demands Details On Controversial $100M Presidential Jet Purchase

Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in last year’s election, has urged the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to be transparent about the details of the newly acquired presidential jet and the status of the older ones being sold off.

Obi made this appeal on Tuesday night via his X account.

EKO HOT BLOG reported that President Tinubu embarked on a working visit to France on Monday using a newly acquired Airbus A330 business jet, which has been the subject of controversy due to its purchase. The jet, typically used as a twin-aisle passenger aircraft, was purchased last month for $100 million and is now registered with the Nigerian Air Force.

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This modified jet is among three presidential aircraft that were recently seized by a French court in favor of a Chinese firm, Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Limited, due to a dispute with the Ogun State Government. However, on Friday, August 16, Zhongshan announced it had decided to release one of the three aircraft as a goodwill gesture, particularly in light of the scheduled meeting between President Tinubu and French President Emmanuel Macron.

Obi noted that despite denials and conflicting reports surrounding the newly acquired presidential jet, the aircraft is now in Nigeria, with information about it coming to light thanks to the French court.

“Now that the Jet is here, can Nigerian taxpayers whose money was used to purchase it need to be privy to how much it cost and how old the aircraft is and how long its been in operation.

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“In addition, Nigerians also deserve to know about how the old jets being disposed, how many of them, how old they are, and why they are being sold. Transparency and Accountability should be the hallmark of any genuine leadership,” Obi said.

He said that the federal government would lose nothing but respect, if it failed to provide adequate information about its leadership to the people whose money was being deployed and whose mandate the President was holding.

“A presidential jet is a major symbol of national sovereignty and state power. How much it costs to transport the president, is a major issue of public accountability. I hope that Nigerians will not be denied the right of full disclosure on the new presidential jet,” Obi added.

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