Nigeria’s New Presidential Jet Sent to South Africa for Repainting and Repairs
Nigeria’s new presidential jet has been flown to South Africa for repainting and refurbishment. This comes as over ₦20 billion has already been spent on the Presidential Air Fleet from July 2023 to December 2024.
Reports show that the government is upgrading the jet to match the official look and improve its features. The plane was bought in 2023 for about $100 million.
Huge Spending on Presidential Jet in Nigeria
According to data from GovSpend, ₦14.15 billion was used in 2024 alone. This is 71% of the fleet’s budget for the year.
Most of the money was marked as “Forex Transit Funds.” These funds are used for foreign payments such as fuel, repairs, and services when presidential jets are overseas.
One government official said, “We pay in dollars or other currencies when the planes are abroad. This helps avoid delays in operations.”
Why the Jet Was Sent to South Africa
Sources confirmed that the new jet, an Airbus ACJ330-200, was flown to South Africa to change its livery and upgrade its interior. It had not yet received the official green-white-green colors of Nigeria.
“It’s not just repainting. They are also updating parts of the plane’s interior,” an official said.
President Tinubu Used a Chartered Jet in April
In April 2024, President Bola Tinubu had to use a chartered jet after the main aircraft broke down during a trip to Saudi Arabia. His Boeing 737 was under maintenance at the time.
Since February 2025, the President has been flying in a San Marino-registered jet (T7-NAS) while the new Airbus is being prepared for use.
Nigeria’s Presidential Air Fleet: Big and Expensive
Nigeria’s Presidential Air Fleet is one of the largest in Africa, with 11 aircraft including jets and helicopters.
Some of the jets are old. The Boeing 737, bought in 2005, is now costly to maintain. Annual maintenance costs can reach $4.5 million per aircraft.
From 2017 to 2024, the budget for the fleet grew from ₦4.37 billion to ₦20.52 billion — a 370% increase.
Experts and Critics React
Some experts say the costs are expected, due to the age of the aircraft and the falling value of the naira. But critics say the spending is too much for a country struggling with poverty and inflation.
Debo Adeniran, an anti-corruption leader, said, “Nigerians expected a frugal government. But we are seeing huge spending on comfort for leaders while people are suffering.”
However, presidential adviser Bayo Onanuga defended the decision. He said the aircraft is not for luxury, but for safety and reliable travel.
“It’s not Tinubu’s plane. It belongs to Nigeria,” he said. “We need our President to fly safely.”
What This Means for Nigerians
The presidential jet Nigeria was meant to cut long-term costs and avoid safety risks. But the high cost of maintenance, forex spending, and ongoing upgrades continue to spark public debate.
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